Nature, wealth, and power in Latin America: Unleashing the potential of rural development in Latin America

Although highly urbanized the rural areas of Latin America continue to be the home of a large percentage of the poor. In addition rural areas provide a number of essential goods and services for LA economies and quality of life. Many poor people are rural and depend on natural resources for their livelihoods and growth. If the Millennium Development Goals are to be achieved in the region urgent action is needed on rural poverty. The critical linkages between natural resources, growth and poverty alleviation, and governance and democracy are becoming more evident every day. And these linkages and complementarities are providing a powerful framework with which to analyze and attack rural issues.