Soil and Water Conservation Policies and Programs

Book excerpt: For as far into the future as we can see, governments will probably topple, power will continue to exchange hands, the climate will undergo continuous change, and the global economy will ebb and flow like the oceans. But for the world's many diverse countries-whether they be highly industrialized or third world-one thing will always remain constant: the need to solve the planet's pressing soil and water conservation problems, as well as implement effective policies. But why do some policy initiatives succeed while others fail? Soil and Water Conservation Policies and Programs: Successes and Failures addresses this very question. Based on an international conference held in Prague, this book debates the strengths and weaknesses of soil and water conservation initiatives implemented in North America, Europe, and Australia. Soil and water conservation policies in the United States, Canada, Germany, Austria, Yugoslavia, and other countries are examined through the eyes of technical and soil scientists. And the book also addresses specialized topics, such as agricultural pollution abatement in Poland, and private farmers and contemporary conservation subsidy programs in the Czech Republic. With its thorough treatment of the subject matter, Soil and Water Conservation Policies and Programs: Successes and Failures contributes to resolving one of the world's most pressing conservation issues.