ABSTRACT
There is increasing concern within international organizations and national governments about the adequacy of the natural resource bases of the developing countries. Much of the observed improvement in material living standards in the Third World is attributable to the exploitation of non-renewable resources like the fossil fuels and metallic ores or to non-sustainable rates of exploitation of renewable resource systems such as forestry, fisheries, agriculture, and related water systems. In forestry, the rapid progress of deforestation is causing worldwide concern, especially regarding tropical zones. Highland rainforests that are crucial as watersheds and to the generation of soil are rapidly and non selectively being denuded. In agriculture, the avoidance of irreversible changes involves the avoidance of highly erodible soils, the use of proper drainage in irrigated areas, the controlled use of brackish waters for irrigation, sustaining soil texture and chemistry, the avoidance of chemical build-ups in soils and water bodies, and informed limitations on the introduction of mono-cultures.
