Resource Management in Developing Countries

The "Themes in Resource management" series has several objectives: to identify and to examine substantive and enduring resource management and development problems; to assess responses to these management and development problems in a variety of world regions; to explore the way in which resource analysis, management and development can be made more complementary to one another. Peter Omara-Ojungu's book, the ninth in the "Themes in Resource Management" series, is the first to focus exclusively on resource management and development in developing countries. This text covers a broad range of material introducing the field of resource management in the context of developing countries, and outlines basic ecological, economic, technological and ethnological aspects requiring attention. Appropriately, the pervasive issue of poverty is the central theme of the book, emphasizing that resource management and development cannot be separated from the need to address the acute poverty which overwhelms many who live in developing countries. This text also highlights the importance of an holistic or ecosystems approach in dealing with resource management and development.
Drawing on examples from Africa, southeast Asia and Latin America, the author explores issues and problems related to agriculture mountainous environments, marine and coastal resources, as well as urban resources (land, housing, industrialization). Mountainous and coastal areas are particularly significant. Not only are they sensitive environments, but they also are likely to be encroached upon as pressure grows in existing settled areas. The outcome is a book which not only draws upon the research literature, but in many places it reflects the authors direct experience in guiding resource management in a developing country. His views on poverty, difficulties of rural people and communities, and resource management and development deserve careful attention. The book is above all practical in its approach, and should be of interest to policy makers, resource managers, analysts, and students.