Finding the Way Forward looks at the role in the mining industry of voluntary initiatives: coordinated activities undertaken by groups of companies to go beyond the environmental and social performance requirements set by legislation. Recent research into the role of voluntary activities in the sector conducted as part of the Mining, Minerals and Sustainable Development (MMSD) formed the basis of the this report, and the relevant MMSD papers are included in full on the enclosed CD-ROM.

The reduction of world poverty is a major challenge for the international community over the next decade. It is increasingly clear that the our capacity to successfully achieve this objective will be undermined if the natural resource base for development is threatened. ~Biodiversity is a fundamental characteristic of that resource base, defining many of its immediate and future potentials and vulnerabilities. The purpose of this document is to explore how biodiversity and people’s interactions with it might either support or restrict poverty reduction processes. It does so by aiming to develop a better understanding of biodiversity, the values it holds, and how people respond to it. It attempts to shed light on the differing impacts of these values – and their associated management systems on people’s livelihoods, especially those of the poorest groups. It ends with a presentation of possible future actions.

Malians continue to depend on forests and trees, using them in different but overlapping ways: as a source of household fuel and food, as fodder, bedding and fertiliser in agricultural production, and as a source of revenue and employment. Nationwide, wood is the main source of energy, but it is under increasing pressure as forest reserves dwindle and the population expands. Tradional natural resource management systems can no longer cope with the effects of the intensive commercial exploitation of firewood and other forest products, which is prevalent around urban areas. There is an urgent need to consider how best to satisfy the requirements of the growing population while maintaining the quality and quantity of the country's woodlands. This paper looks at a new approach to managing community forests.

Soil fertility is one of many factors influencing farmers’ choices regarding agricultural production, fertilisation and soil and water conservation. However, before we can study the effects of soil fertility, we need to measure it. We use the QUEFTS model (Quantitative Evaluation of the Fertility of Tropical Soils Janssen et al, 1990) which predicts crop yields from chemical soil characteristics, as an indicator of soil fertility. We then compare these predictions with actual yields as well as farmers’ own estimates of soil fertility