Managing resources sustainably on the local level is essential for achieving the global goal of sustainable development. The importance of people's participation for sustainable development has recently become increasingly acknowledged yet there is little understanding of the multiple dimensions that such participation involves. Grassroots Environmental Action questions the viability of traditional management systems. Case studies from Latin America, Asia and Africa focus on areas where local people are vigorous actors in the determination of their own future and that of their environment.

`The studies offer stimulating reading for researchers and development planners.' - Ileia Newsletter

`This is a stimulating book containing much information of great value.' - International Journal of Environmental Studies

` ... The book is well organised and contains much interesting information through its well documented case studies and ample bibliographical accompaniment. It is an important collection not only for development specialists, but for anyone interested in the fate of environmental movements.' - Environmental Politics

This text shows, through in depth case studies, how some low income countries have made enormous strides in overcoming problems of adult literacy, lack of schooling, high child mortality, rapid population growth, mass poverty and gender inequalities.;The book analyzes the experiences with social development and public policy of Chile, China, Costa Rica, Cuba, Kerala, Sri Lanka and Vietnam. Using a holistic approach, it draws lessons and evaluates their relevance for other countries interested in emulating their achievements.

UN Contributions to Development Thinking and Practice is at once a history of the ideas and realities of international development, from the classical economists to the recent emphasis on human rights, and a history of the UN s role in shaping and implementing development paradigms over the last half century. The authors, all prominent in the field of development studies, argue that the UN s founding document, the UN Charter, is infused with the human values and human concerns that are at the center of the UN s thinking on economic and human development today. In the intervening period, the authors show how the UN s approach to development evolved from mainstream areas of economic development to include issues of employment, poverty reduction, fairer distribution of the benefits of growth, equality of men and women, child development, social justice, and environmental sustainability."