Defeating degradation

The problem of too much pressure being placed on too little or already degraded land is a depressingly familiar theme running through many books on development in the Third World. Working with fanners for better land husbandry looks at current approaches to soil and water management through a series of case studies in several countries of East and Southern Africa. There are examples of the opportunities and benefits of improved farming methods case studies where an important part of the experience is stimulating community developments; and case studies with more emphasis on the methods and techniques used to promote better land husbandry. The book strikes a cautious but optimistic note and suggests that whilst there are lessons to be learnt for the future, there are, nevertheless, reasons to be hopeful. Soil conservation and sustainable land use takes a more global perspective. There is more emphasis on how and why degradation has occurred supported by tables which show general development indicators agricultural sector and demographic indicators, land use and climatic indicators; natural resources and resource use indicators; as well as soil erosion worldwide. These serve to high-light, perhaps more dramaticaIy than text, the results of cause and effect. Although this book is far more statistically analytical than the first, the underlying theme and message of both are basically the same. In the final analysis, farmers do understand what is best for their land: it is the parameters within which they often have to work that prevent them from putting into practice what they know in their hearts. They are well aware that failure to implement sound practices means death - death of their land: but often they are given no alternative. Working with farmers for better land husbandry edited by Norman Hudson and Rodney Cheatle 1993 272pp ISBN 1 85339 122 0 Pbk pace UKL9.95 IT Publications 103-105 Southampton Row London WC1B 4HH, UK Soil conservation and sustainable land use: an economic approach by Jan de Graf 1993 191pp ISBN 90 6832 042 4 Pbk price Dfl.45 KlT Press, Mauriskade 63 1092 AD Amsterdam THE NETHERLANDS

Working with farmers for better land husbandry edited by Norman Hudson and Rodney Cheatle 1993 272pp ISBN 1 85339 122 0 Pbk pace UKL9.95 IT Publications 103-105 Southampton Row London WC1B 4HH, UK Soil conservation and sustainable land use: an eco