One of the major challenges in the 21st century is to provide adequate food for the growing population while protecting the environment. Since SANREM is a participatory natural resource management program, it serves to try to integrate these two goals through diverse stakeholders and resolution of conflicting demands. In this document, SANREM's approach is outlined, research results are reported, and impacts and lessons learned from the first five years are reported. The main lesson that has been learned is that sustainability can be achieved only through enhancing the decision-making capabilities of local people.