In search of a natural systems sustainability index

This research note proposes an index of sustainability to be attached to any natural system evaluated according to several indicators of sustainability. The proposed index (IS) is very operational and most of the indices proposed in the literature can be considered to be particular cases of IS. Moreover, the IS propounded can be used to reach balances or compromises between an engineering solution of maximum aggregate sustainability and an ecological solution of most balanced sustainability of the system. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.