Poverty, land care, and sustainable livelihoods in hillside and mountain regions

Resource-use decisions made by households and local communities in pursuit of today's survival and livelihood security are influenced by the policies, institutions, and technologies that impact on their lives. Such decisions are the main determinants of links between poverty elimination, improved la nd care, and sustainable rural livelihoods. In the long term such goals can be compatible but in the short term the need for increased yields with inc reasing populations is likely to undermine sustainable natural resource man agement. Increasing analysis and understanding of poverty, its measurement, and identification of the processes that create poverty, as well as improv ed land care are key to creating sustainable livelihoods. Hillside and moun tainous areas are particularly vulnerable to poverty due to their inaccessi bility, fragility, marginality, and diversity. Although many of the world h ot spots for land degradation are found in hillside areas, there are also m any bright spots where improvements in natural resource management are resu lting in increased incomes. Poverty elimination will require revival of the community stake in the natural resource base, restoring local control over local resources, and use of local perspectives and traditional knowledge s ystems in development activities. New policies, institutions, and technolog ies will need to reflect these principles.