Since 1998, the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Nature Management and Food Quality (LNV) promotes development-orientated agricultural and environmental research and strengthening of North-South partnerships through its International Cooperation (DLO-IC) research programme. By 2005, some 70 collaborative North-South projects had been carried out. 

All science groups in Wageningen University and Research Centre (WUR) were involved in the implementation of the programme and at least half the projects and activities undertaken were directly related to Rural Development and Sustainable Agriculture (RDSA). Facing new challenges with respect to sustainable development strategies for low-income countries, related to global environmental change and globalization of markets, an interdisciplinary Wageningen research group set out to draw lessons from the DLO-IC projects of the last eight years, stimulate discussion and support identification of a future research agenda for RDSA. In that process, special emphasis was given to lessons for future thinking about the contribution of agriculture to: 1) poverty alleviation and rural livelihoods, 2)food security, human nutrition and health, 3) environmental sustainability and natural resource management. 

In discussing the way ahead, a number of major research challenges, as well as policy questions are outlined. These include the interrelations between climate change and food security and environmental degradation, increased demand for biofuels and animal feed, and competing claims on natural resources, and rural development and livelihood strategies in low-income countries.

The book begins with an overview of the research topics which were addressed in the three different phases of the Dutch Priority Program on Acidification (DPPA), executed between 1985 and 1994. This chapter is followed by a chapter which deals with the emissions of acidifying substances, the concentrations and the deposition to forest and nature conservation areas. Prognoses are given for the acid deposition in 2000 and 2010, the deposition in the countries surrounding the Netherlands is also mentioned. The differences in the results of the DPPA-II are analysed.

The third chapter deals with the effects of exposure and load on forests. The chapter moves from small-scale to large-scale: first the effects in laboratory-scale studies are described, then the effects in the field, both at stand level and on a regional scale. In addition, the critical thresholds (critical level of concentration and critical load of deposition) are discussed.

The fourth chapter covers terrestrial ecosystems (or parts thereof) as well as weakly buffered surface waters, springs and other streams. Critical levels and loads are also discussed. The most important results are given in chapter 5.

In the appendices of the book, so-called umbrella theme reports on deposition, stand modelling and effects on forests are presented which describe in more detail the scientific work performed in the third phase of the DPPA.

This book will be of interest to anyone involved in research related to acidification and eutrophication, i.e., not only those who perform the research in the causal chain from emissions to effects, but also policy-makers and students.

This book presents the proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on Waste Materials in Construction, held in June 1997. The papers presented give the state of the art on leaching of materials and products, demonstration projects and product development. Results of workshops on immobilisation and quality control are also presented. A good overview of the latest results on the application of various materials in construction, based on both technical and environmental data, is provided. The book provides a unique opportunity for environmental researchers, environmental consultants, policy-makers, and those involved in the construction industry to gain the latest information on the subject.