Ecological Civilization (Eco-Civ) in the Perspective of Geographical Processes of Revitalization of Remote Rural Areas

ABSTRACT: The global urbanization process is currently taking diverse territorial forms, leading to increased consumption of rural space through the creation of eco-cities. Within this context of transformation and the shifting nature of urban spaces, concepts and ideological frameworks are emerging to address environmental degradation caused by population concentration. Ecological Civilization (eco-civ) originated in China as a broad framework for managing new territorial processes through the construction of new eco-cities or the development of a comprehensive rural revitalization program that strengthens the urban-rural relationship. The major questions arising from this new process of rural revitalization in Chinese territories—and from the very concept of ecological civilization—can be summarized as follows: a simplification of the countryside, a loss of rural identity, the emergence of a post-agrarian society, the urbanization of rural areas, and an exacerbation of urban dependence on rural areas. Consequently, alternative approaches are proposed, based on multiple place-based approaches and actions that develop and adapt the fundamental principles of environmental and spatial renewal to each specific territory.