Inland valleys are defined as the upper reaches of river systems. These include valley bottoms and minor floodplains,their hydromorphic fringes and upland slopes and crests. These occupy 22-52 million ha of land in W. Africa and although of good agricultural potential are only marginally used. An agro-ecological characterization developed in the Cte d'Ivoire, is outlined on 4 levels: macro (1:1 000 000-1:5 000 000), reconnaissance (1:100 000-1:250 000), semi-detailed (1:25 000-1:50 000) and detailed (1:5000-10 000).

The deterioration of land resources in the world's arid and semi-arid regions is one of the gravest problems facing our planet and its people. Desertification, broadly defined, is one of the principal barriers to sustainable food security and sustainable livelihoods in our world today. It is not a future global threat; it is a devastating day-to-day local reality.

With a view to protect and improve the agricultural environment, to prevent pollution and protect ecosystem, the Regulations are formulated. The agricultural environment is defined as including land, water for agricultural purposes, air and other factors which have an impact on the survival and development of agricultural resources.The purpose of these Regulations is to protect and improve agricultural environment, prevent and control agricultural environmental pollution and ecological destruction, rationally develop and utilize agricultural natural resources.

This issue of Unasylva examines a number of facets of forestry research, emphasizing needs for and efforts made towards strengthening national capability in the developing countries.

Ce numro d'Unasylva est la suite logique du n 175 (Politiques et lgislations forestires) o l'on soulignait que, dans l'laboration de politiques et de lgislations nouvelles et pour un dveloppement durable des ressources forestires, le processus dynamique et participatif doit s'accompagner d'une rforme et d'un renforcement des institutions gouvernementales et non gouvernementales appeles jouer un rle majeur dans la mise en uvre de ces politiques. On passe donc en revue ici les changements institutionnels au secteur forestier oprs dans un certain nombre de pays.

The purpose of these Measures is to prevent and control water and soil loss, protect and rationally utilize water and soil resources, reduce floods, droughts, wind and sand disasters, improve the ecological environment, build ecological security barrier, and ensure the sustainable development of economy and society. The Text consists of 54 Articles divided into 7 Chapters: General Provisions (I); Planning (II); Prevention (III); Control (IV); Monitoring and Supervision (IV); Legal Liabilities (V); Supplementary Provisions (VI).

The State Law and Order Restoration Council...
The Myanmar Mines Law...
(The State Law and Order Restoration Council Law No 8/94)...
The 2nd Waxing Day of Tawthalin, 1356 M.E.
(6th September, 1994)

"The objectives of this Law are as follows:

a.to implement the Mineral Resources Policy of the Government;

b.to fulfil the domestic requirements and to increase export by producing more mineral products;

c.to promote development of local and foreign investment in respect of mineral resources;

Cette loi porte régime de base en matière d'environnement. Elle vise, notamment, à: préserver la diversité et l'intégrité de l'environnement; créer les conditions d'une utilisation quantitativement et qualitativement durable des ressources naturelles; garantir à tous les citoyens un cadre de vie écologiquement sain et équilibré. Les citoyens sont tenus à participer collectivement pour la sauvegarde de l'environnement.