Examining development projects for the impact they are likely to have on the environment is now standard practice in development planning. Environmental assessment (EA) and similar methodologies are required by most multilateral and bilateral development agencies and a growing number of...

Governments have revamped mining legislation to enable private investment while becoming more sensitive to environmental factors. In light of this legislation, this report examines the environmental effects of artisanal, small, and medium mines in three Latin American Countries: Bolivia, Chile,...

This paper summarizes the World Bank assistance strategy for rural development in the ECA region. The rural sector includes the people; economic; development activities; institutional, economic, and social infrastructure; and natural resources in rural areas and is thus not confined to agriculture....

Medicinal plants are commonly used in treating and preventing specific ailments and diseases and are considered to play a beneficial role in health care. Despite their importance, medicinal plants are seldom handled within an organized, regulated sector; most are still exploited with little or...

Both indigenous knowledge and scientific research are needed to meet the challenge of intensifying agriculture in an environment-friendly manner and understanding how the landscape mosaic of cultural habitats could contribute to conservation of biodiversity.

Water resources in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) have become a strategic commodity, with supply limited in terms of quantity and quality, and demand increasing due to population growth and economic development. The strategy developed in this document is based on the principle that water is a scarce...

Water users' organizations are one example of community participation at work in the sectors of irrigation, drinking water supply, and sanitation. This paper looks at the conditions under which these organizations are most effective in managing water systems. It identifies key external factors...