Books like this which bubble over with the fruits of many people experience and insight add new layers of meaning to (the concept of sustainable development) deepening our understanding of what for me is the most important political challenge of our age—by a very long way... this timely and important book will be a real inspiration.
from the foreword by JONATHON PORRITT

Community and Sustainable Development is about the future - a future in which people have the resources to meet their needs. This basic message of sustainable development recognises the need to conserve environmental resources, but also to support and build the human resources through which the future will be realised, by ensuring that local people are able to participate in the decisions and activities which affect their living environment.

Featuring contributions from many leading figures in the fields of community participation and sustainable development, this book shows how participation can extend democracy, citizenship and accountability. It also considers the role of science and expert knowledge in setting and achieving appropriate goals for development, and describes how participatory initiatives can inspire sustainable action on poverty and social inclusion.

Originally published in 1998