Our ability to continue to develop depends largely upon how efficiently and responsibly we use the Earth's land, water, and other natural resources. Many of our natural resources are not only inputs in production of goods, but are also needed in their natural form to sustain life. For example, forests that provide wood for fuel and industry also help keep soil from eroding and produce oxygen for us to breathe.
In order to make sure that development can be sustained during our lifetimes and for generations to follow, the World Bank in partnership with other institutions and organizations is working to find more creative ways for using resources without abusing them. We are also sharing knowledge and technologies around the world so that we can learn from each other and help development become a more efficient, equitable, and Earth-friendly practice.
Explore the links on this page to find out what the Bank is doing to promote the Earth-friendly practices.
Environmental Economics and Indicators
This site focuses on new ways of measuring the environmental costs of development. Visit the site to learn about environmental indicators, "green accounting", trade and the environment, and placing monetary value on environmental impacts. If you wish to learn more about these issues, explore the links embedded in the text.
Biodiversity Conservation at the World Bank
Why should we care about biodiversity? This site discusses the importance of biodiversity in development and the Bank's activities in protecting biodiversity and mainstreaming it into development projects. For more region- and country-specific information, explore the Projects area.
The Land Policy Network
This is the electronic home for researchers, policy-makers, and practitioners interested in improving and applying policy related to land access, land ownership, and administration. You might want to check out the Research Center
and the Regional Perspectives for specific information.
Drylands Management & Combating Desertification
Land degradation and desertification are problems of a global dimension that affect more than 900 million people in 100 countries-some of them among the least developed in the world. Visit this web site for an overview of dryland management and ways to stop desertification. For more detailed information, explore the Key Resources and the Related Links.
Forests and Forestry
Wise forest management is critical to sustainable development, particularly where the local or national economy is based directly on the use of forest resources. Explore all the parts of this site using the navigation buttons on the left hand side of the screen.
Participation in Forest and Conservation Management
In order for an agriculture or natural resources management project--or any other development intervention--to succeed, the people affected by the project must be included in the decision-making processes.
Access this article from the Environment Department's Dissemination Notes to read about the participation of local communities and other stakeholders in managing forestry and conservation projects.
Water. The World Bank Group. A World Free of Poverty
Within the World Bank, water is organized under four major themes: hydropower; water supply & sanitation; water resources management in rural development (including agricultural irrigation and drainage), and environmental dimensions of water resources management (such as freshwater, coastal and marine resource management).This site serves as a central organizing point for water throughout the World Bank. General Information offers an overview of some of the major water-related challenges facing the world today.
Water Resources Management. Training Course
During the latter half of this century, the pressure on natural water resources in many regions of the world has been increasing dramatically. Explore this on-line training course designed to raise awareness of the pressure and challenges of the water resources of the world by looking at the global picture.
Explore these tables from World Development Indicators, 1999 to find data on agriculture and the use of natural resources for over 140 of the world's countries:
Check out the links below for summaries and data on use of natural resources in the Europe and Central Asia region. Access country-specific information by selecting a country from the map.
Global Environmental Issues
Explore these interactive maps to learn about world's forest areas, freshwater resources, nationaly protected areas, and more. To view these maps, select the indicator you are interested in from the list at the left of the screen, and then click on "Refresh Map".
| Around the World |
 |
Philippines. Integrated protected areas project
Explore this chapter form the Participation Sourcebook to learn about a biodiversity preservation project in Philippines.
Brazilian Rain Forests
Read this speech by delivered by Caio K. Koch-Weser, the Managing Director at the World Bank, to learn about the past, present, and future of the program to conserve the Brazilian rain forest.
How Africa Is Saving Its Forests
These web pages contain the proceedings of the African Forestry Policy Forum. Find answers to the following questions: How is Africa saving its forests? What lessons are we learning as governments? and more.
El NI�O Marks the Need for Changes in Water Resource Policy
Access this World Bank News article to learn how the El NI�O weather phenomenon forces countries to rethink and change how they use water.
Water Markets in the Americas
The questions of water rights and water markets are causing debates in many countries. This World Bank News article summarizes a report on water market issues in the United States, Chile, and the Canary Islands.
Water Projects Stream into Eastern Europe/ Central Asia
This World Bank News article describes efforts to save the Aral Sea and Lake Ohrid.
| Digging Deeper |
|
Tackling the Issues
The issue of natural resources is closely related to
Food and Agriculture,
Sustainable Development,
Energy,
Climate Change,
Pollution,
Water and Sanitation,
as well as the others. Explore these web pages to learn more about the interactions that interest you.
Water Forum
The site provides links to databases, libraries, web
sites, and discussion groups to further international dialogue on water resources management.
Mediterranean Hydrological Cycle Observing System
Explore the site of hydrological information systems built to improve the knowledge of the water resources for sustainable development. For good classroom materials, check out "Documents".
World Bank Electronic Media Products and Services
Global Environment Facility Documents
For those interested in environmental problems that transcend international borders, check out these links to Public Information Documents on projects dealing with global climate change, pollution and overexploitation of international waters, destruction of biological diversity, and depletion of the ozone layer.
