The book assesses the challenges posed by the interdependence of peoples and places throughout the globe and argues that we must address the needs of the poorest groups in order to achieve the goals of either conservation or development.In An Introduction to Sustainable Development, Jennifer A. Elliott examines the historical origins of the concept of ``sustainable development'' and analyzes current patterns and future challenges for resource use in rural and urban environments. She presents materials from developing nations at a variety of spatial scales and discusses the characteristics of successful projects at the local level to clarify the opportunities for sustainable development. The book assesses the challenges posed by the interdependence of peoples and places throughout the globe and argues that we must address the needs of the poorest groups in order to achieve the goals of either conservation or development.