( '~n,'li'n'#l( ~' repotl.~ range of fiietors causing the erosion of Africa's institution building capacity, a critical factor in African development. including over reliance on long-term technical assistance. The erosion, being compounded by the continued margin- alisation of Africa in the global co(roomy, undermines efforts Io contain poverty and environnlcnlal dcgradalion. The agriculture and folcstry hltcrcsls at the conference were fairly limited. In the Forestry and Land Management session, Andreas Ohscr fronl Leipzig University discussed tile Institutional Dynamics of the hllcrgovcrnnlentaI Panel on Forests. and stressed that in the absence of an inlernationally agreed foresi~ eiillVenliOll, global sustainable foreslry eould only become a reality if there was a dyniinlJc cxcllilllge of infer- marion. The institutional theme was further developed by Rol~crt Davies, a natural resource eonstlllalll J'roln Tasmania, who stressed lhe multiftlnc- tional nalure of forests and the need for legislation Io lake inlo account the multiple benefits. As a practitioner his concern was that without the appro- prJalc administrative frameworks lhc full range (51 environmental, social and econonlic bellefils would not be hleor- porated into the decision-making process. Michael Burton (University of Manchester) eonlinLled lhe primary huld use theme with an analysis of tile adoption of organic farming methods in tile horticultural sector. The analysis revealed a numIler of signilieant key factors that intlucneed adoption, including gender, altiludiilal variables, age and length i)l" tinic ill conventional farming. Joyec Tail froill tile University of F.dinburgh outlined the TIBRE projcel, il Scottish National I lerilage inllUlllVe t(l eneotiragu a 111ovc ilWliy Jronl intensive agriculture antl towards the adoption of inlegraled farnfing syslelllx, illiiXilllizing envir(511nlenlal hcnetits whilst minimi4ng public expense. In the short session on biodiversity l)avid gkidnloi-e of Manchester Metro- politan University highlighled the need for conlinning i)rofe~,sional develop- nlcnl if eoilCepl~, such ~i~ biodiversity, arc Io he integraled into decision making hy specialixls flonl [i wide liingc of J'~aekgrotlnds. tie assessed tile imporlant role Ihal professional soeie- ties and Irade associations should phiy in effectively eornmunicalhlg the relevance of complex concepts sueh as hiodiversiiv to other specialist and non-specialist profcssionals. Business and suMahlable dcvclop- nlcnl fealured in lhrcc of the six sessions with papers I)11 clean technology, product design, manage- lllCn[ StI'LIcltII'eSailtl acI','iee sup[)ort networks. Whilst businesses appear comfortable with the win-~.in ~,ecnarios Of envJroiiilleiltiiI lll,~Iilagenlen[, these sessions threw little new light on the imporlant question (51 the role of business in rclulion Io SLislaJnahle developnlcnl beyond cnvironnlenlal nl[ill;lgenlClll. Despite lh¢ broad hlctl~, of Ihe CollfClcnec and the wide range o[ inter- pr¢lalion~ of SLiSlainable de~,L, hipnleill, a number of iillereonneclJng lheilleS emerged, hnplenleniing suslainable developnlenl is a eoilSellSUS bnilding process. The llow of adequale infornla- lion and Ihe cxisicnee of cffeetive decision making lools is essential. There is a fundamental need for the conceptualization and eonlnltlllicalion of ;i vision ill order Io delllOnSllate the relevance, 1(5 gencrale inlercsl, and to develop a willingness Io parlieipale and ~ubsequently foster a sense el owner- ship at all levels of the inq)lementation process. The implementation of a sustainable developmenl agenda requires the eooperathm of a diversity of elten apparently ineompatil~Ic parti- cipants. I-xisting institutional and management strt.etures, he it locally or internationally, in governnlent, or in the voluntary i)l commercial seelol~,, arc often inadequate for dealing with tile logistical challenges posed. In order for initiatives to make and maintain progress, tinkering within the exisling institutional frameworks may not be sulticienl and a radical restructuring process mav be required, altering tradi- tional roles and shifting tile balance of power. Although environmental manage- ment is still dominant within the sustainable devclopnlent debate the conference was an ideal flsrum to sample tile i-;lllge i)l ib, SilCS heing addressed under the sustainabilily "umbrelhi'. Gary Hill and Dan van der Horst The Macaulay Land Use Research Institute Aberdeen Scotland Land use problems facing fast growing region Land Use Issues in the USA's Pacific Northwest, Seattle, Washington, USA, 12 February 1997 The purpose of the meeting was to determine the status of land use problems in the Pacilie Northwest. (['he L/SA's Pacific Northwest includes the states of Washington, Idaho, and Oregon.) The event was organized by The llenry M. Jaeks(m Foundation which was e~tablishcd to honor the memory of United Slates Senator Henry Jackson of Washington Stclte. I.and use policy was one of his major condcrIIs and Ml it has bcell Ceil|ial to the work of the Foundation. The Foundation makes grant~, 1(5 i)tlblie agencies ~llld non-prolit organizations in support of their activities. While the Foundation has traditionally maintained a national focus, it recently became interested in the Pacific Northwest because of the rapid growth occurring in I lenry Jackson's home region. The Foundation called the meeting to hell ) shape fulure grant-nlaking decisions by itselfand other foundations. Participants were invited to represent various points (51"view and geographic areas. I':ighteen regional leaders came together inchlding public administrators and planners, elected oftieials, environ- mental leaders, policy analysts, consul- 332