Contenu du sommaire : Environnement et décentralisation dans les pays en développement

Land tenure system, tax policy, and control : the contract local governance of renewable resources within a decentralization context (Niger, Mali and Madagascar).
Contract transfer of renewable resource local management and decentralization belong to two distinct registers and different space levels. However, they influence each other and condition relations between communes and local communities. Three key elements the local good governance of renewable resources within a decentralization context : the land tenure system, the tax policy (forest and/or commune tax system), and, control (forest control and commune control.

Rural districts and regions in Madagascar. New actors in the local management of environment The decentralization reforms under way since 1994, have given the malagasy rural districts (communes) new responsabilities: management of renewable ressources, land securization, planification of local development. Communes become the most important administrative level, while the more recently created regions are setting up their own development plans.

Can we decentralize strategic natural resources? The articulation of the management levels around the Guiers lake (Senegal) In Senegal, the Guiers lake is the more important sweet water tank and many towns among which Dakar are depending on it. After the 1980's crisis, State is back on the Guiers Lake area thanks to management planning. This reinforcement seems to be in contradiction to decentralization process that leads local institutions to be responsible for resource and territory management. An equilibrium between local and national level appears to be a condition of sustainable development. That is particularly true for strategic resources.

Natural resources management in the Aït Bouguemez valley (High Atlas) : the Moroccan mountain region in search of institutional innovations Rural communities of the Aït Bouguemez have ever known how to implement and to maintain various collective management modalities of a fair number of territories and natural resources. However, in the context of deep changes, community based organizations are confronted with modern institutions as well as with the new rural development public strategies. One of the challenges to pick up in such zones would be to achieve a successful decentralization process enabling to preserve the efficiency of the traditional management practices, while maintaining a good understanding between the interests which drive the various stake holders.

Developing conservation or conserving development? Some historical thoughts on the two terms and the way forward The global narrative on sustainability largely conceals the past ties between nature conservation and development. The article is based on history to propose new understanding of such intertwining. It shows that sustainable development imposes a transformation of both conservation and development. In this direction, a “cosmopolitic of biodiversity” may underlie a new social and ecological project in which nature will not be the dark side of politics.

Do interest rate ceilings really protect poors and small enterprises?
In emerging economies, microfinance institutions begin to play an increasing role by providing financial services to poors and small enterprises. However, usury laws are becoming generalized in those countries. This study shows that interest rate ceilings do not really protect small business, and finally, cause damage to microfinance institutions. To be sustainable and thereby reach a larger number of clients, microfinance institutions need to price loans in a realistic way. One way to protect borrowers is to stimulate competition among MFIs by promoting transparency on interest rates.