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...

The study aims to provide a better understanding of the ways in which forest resources are used in Nepal. Its focus is to examine systematically the costs and benefits of present and possible future sustainable and biodiversity-friendly management practices from household, national, and global...

Air pollution caused by motor vehicles is a major environmental problem in many Latin American urban centers. If appropriate measures are not taken soon, vehicular air pollution in the region is likely to worsen, posing a great threat to human health and welfare. This report analyzes the...

Lakes and reservoirs, which are key components of the world's water resources, are under serious threat(disturbances in the watersheds, pollution, overfishing, introduction of exotic species, diversions, and lake reclamation are all taking a toll. This report describes the special challenges of...

Air pollution has become a serious issue in many Asian cities. A major cause is the expanding motor vehicle population--with growth rates as high as 23 percent in rapidly growing economies such as China. Experience worldwide has shown that the use of clean fuels (low-lead or unleaded gasoline...