Divided into three sections this book explores the three main pillars of sustainable
development namely economy environment and society and their interlinkages at the regional
level. The first section Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) for sustainable development focuses
on international agreements and national legislation as well as the challenges in implementing
ABS in e.g. India. In turn the second section examines the process of forming Biodiversity
Management Committees (BMCs) at the Local Self Government (LSG) level to promote environmental
sustainability highlighting local and community-level conservation initiatives that have led
to the conservation of habitats and species. The third section addresses poverty eradication
and food security. The case studies included demonstrate how the combination of traditional
knowledge and modern techniques can enhance the productivity of traditional crop varieties
yielding greater benefits for communities. The aim of this volume is to disseminate the lessons
learned from these case studies as well as the findings from projects already in place which
can offer recommendations that can be applied to similar problems elsewhere in an attempt to
find environmental solutions for sustainable development. Further it introduces readers to new
approaches to inclusive development demonstrating that participation and grass root
empowerment are key drivers of equitable and sustainable development.
