ABSTRACT
Providing shelter to meet one of the basic needs of societies remains the main purpose of rural development in many Third Wodd countries. A large proportion of the populations of China and India, for example, still lives in rural areas. Unrestrained or unguided urbanization without balanced rural development can impose severe problems on both society and the natural environment. A balanced change in rural structures and well-planned growth of urban areas to include some elements of the natural landscape would be a positive development for any country.
