Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book aims to create greater awareness of the magnitude of soil erosion and land management in developing countries, provide analytical frameworks for the preparation and appraisal of soil erosion control programs and discuss the broad range of important issues involved in the establishment of such programs. It discusses the physical and economic dimensions of soil erosion and estimates the overall magnitude of the soil erosion problem in developing countries. The book focuses on how to evaluate soil conservation programs by integrating scientific knowledge with economic methods and procedures -- and concludes with a series of illustrations of how different evaluation methods have been used. It outlines the most important organisational, institutional, technical and macroeconomic issues involved in appraisal, presents the major elements of project or program design and suggests subjects for future research.