Sustainable Development Book Review 171 Working Together for Land Care: Group Management Skills

and Strategies S Chamah and I? Mortiss Australian Academic Press, Brisbane, 1990, xvi + 368pp. 72

Group Management Skills for Land Care: A Trainer’s Guide PMortiSs and S Chumah Australian Academic Press, Brisbane, 1991, xvi + 407pp.

The debate on sustainable development has attracted international attention especially in the last two decades Land degradation, deserbfication and deforestation in many countries have left a legacy of environmental problems and have serious implications for sustainable development. This has raised questions as to whether growth and environment are conflicting or congruent objectives.

Indeed, numerous institutions and individuals now agree that sustainable economic development is desirable (see Alauddin and Tisdell, 1991, for further details). The policy focus of economic development has shlfted to some extent to stressing the importance of sustainability of ecosystems and socio-economic and environmental factors on which agriculture ultimately relies.

Sustaining productivity in Australian agriculture aitically depends on the environmental future of Australia’s land and water rgources Therefore, the state of the environment is of critical importance. This book, in two parts, addresses some issues of critical importance for land holders, community leaders and government and non-government agencies to combine their efforts and resources to achieve the sustainable use of Australia’s natural resources, especially land and water.

Given their hands-on experience and backgrounds, the authors do an excellent job in helping the reader to develop skills and knowledge to foster team efforts in tackiing ecological and environmental problems at the grassroots, as well as the broader community level. The two parts complement each other extremely well. Discussions are pmented for easy understanding of the issues Illusfrations with practical examples make them even more appealing. Yes, the cartcons do make learning easier.

One limitation is that it does not address conceptual issues surrounding sustainable development very weli. References to Conway (1986) and Pearce et d (1989) would have enriched the discussion of the conceptual framework. An important article (Chisholm, 1992) which the authors could take note of has appeared since the publication of this book.

This limitation notwithstanding, the book blends theories, concepts and principles and provides personal and group activities in order to work effectively for a landcare type conservation group. This is a must for anyone interested in conservation and environmental issues

References Alauddin, M. and Tisdell, C.A. (1991), The ‘‘Green Revolution” and Economic Development: The

Chisholm, AH. (1992), “Australian Agriculture: A Sustainability Story”, Australian Journal of

Conway, G.R. (1986), Agricultural Ecosystem Analysis for Research and Development, Winrock

Pearce, D.W., Markandaya, A. and Barbier, E.B. (1989), Blueprintfor a Green Economy, Earthscan

Mohammed Alauddin Department of Economics, Univem’ly of Queenshnd,

Brisbane, Australia

Process and Its Impact in Bangladesh, Mamillan, London.

Agricultural Eonomia, Vol. 36 No. 1, pp. 1-30.

International, Bangkok

Publications, London.