THE LINKS BETWEEN POVERTY AND ENVIRONMENT: THE RATIONALE FOR ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE RESOURCE USE, WITH APPLICATION TO LAND MANAGEMENT IN THE ALTAI REGION

摘要

This paper outlines the links between the environmentally sustainable use of land and water resources and sustainable economic development, including poverty reduction. In many parts of the world the degradation of land and water resources is worsening while the social and economic conditions of people are not being improved. In some parts of the world, both poverty and environmental degradation are increasing. One reason for this is the perception held by some that the sustainable management of the environment and economic development are competing priorities. While there are specific cases where measures to end environmentally unsustainable actions will restrict human use of environmental resources in the short term, over the long term environmentally unsustainable land and water use will reduce the social and economic benefits to humans provided by the environment. Thus, the environment should not be treated as a competitor but as a core component of the natural resource base of human social and economic development. The paper provides specific examples relevant to the Altai region to illustrate the nature of the link between environment and development, including poverty reduction. It also outlines aspects relevant to regional security and provides elements for environmentally and economically sustainable land management.