It is widely acknowledged that the three dimensions of sustainable development economic, social, and environmental-are crucial, inseparable and inter- related. In many cases, however, their goals come into conflict with one another. This conflict often arises in the case of environment-related...

Tropical forest protection is an area fraught with difficulty. Many approaches backfire because they go against the needs of local people who, rather than get actively involved in forest conservation, exploit the resource because they have no vested interest in doing otherwise. To investigate...

Pollution from power stations is a growing problem in many developing nations. The Philippines is no exception and many people in the country are voicing concerns about the effects on people's health. However, a recent study has shown that, when economic costs and benefits are weighed up, there...

Tourism has helped fuel much of Thailand's rapid growth in recent years. Yet the country is in danger of killing the goose that lays this golden egg. Lack of regulation, coupled with inappropriate development, has meant that many of the country's most important tourist sites are in danger of...

This research investigates which land use system would provide the most economic and environmental benefits to farmers of upland grassland areas in the Philippines. It analyses a number of different land-use systems and focuses on the benefits that tree-based systems can bring. It also...

Salination is a major problem for agriculture in many parts of the world. However, this study from Sri Lanka has shown that the involving farmers in preventative measures can provide a cost-effective solution. The study looked at one of the largest irrigation schemes in Southeast Asia. The study...

The way in which timber companies pay to use forests can have a profound effect on sustainable forest management.A well-designed pricing policy can help ensure the efficient utilization of forest resources, a long-term sustainable harvest and minimum ecological and environmental damage....

One of the challenges facing forest conservation in Southeast Asia is to develop management systems that deliver environmental sustainability and secure long-term livelihoods for local people. Choosing and developing such systems is a complex task since there are many diverse and often...

Metro Manila is notorious for its solid waste disposal problems - from the city's infamous garbage dumps to its choked and polluted rivers. To help tackle this challenge, a new study has looked into how solid waste management programs should be designed and implemented. It found that households...

Like many developing countries in Southeast Asia, Vietnam has experienced a significant increase in its electricity needs as it has developed. Since coal is a major source of energy in the country, this has led to a rise in coal mining and coal-powered electricity generation. This, in turn, has...