A framework to identify and develop potential ecovillages: Meta-analysis from the studies of world's ecovillages

Creating and rehabilitating a large number of small and sustainable habitats called "ecovillages" as the beating hearts of sustainable nature systems are regarded as one of the recent achievements of human to reduce the ecological footprint. Despite the proliferation of ecovillages in recent decades and the growing trend of research on these communities around the world, finding the right site to create an ecovillage and the strategic direction of these communities towards sustainability, especially in developing countries, is still considered as a big problem. The study aimed to conduct a meta-analysis of the studies related to the world's ecovillages for achieving a framework that can provide a common mental model for developing available ecovillages and managing potential communities strategically to transform into ecovillage in its right direction. In this regard, 27 separate studies covering more than 60 ecovillage were analyzed based on inclusion criteria and inductive approach. Finally, ten criteria and 119 indicators for ecovillages were obtained in order to provide a comprehensive description from world' ecovillages, a pattern with a different approach in categorizing and a framework for assessing progress towards becoming ecovillage. Based on this model, the potential communities can be identified and developed to transform into ecovillages.