INTRODUCTION

Tropical countries, in general, are changing much more rapidly than temperate ones. This is true with respect to population numbers, deforestation, economic growth (both positive and, occasionally, negative), influence of trade and, in general, various other aspects of globalisation (World Bank, 1998). At the same time, most tropical countries remain especially vulnerable to both natural and man-made disasters (Hurricane Mitch in Central America and the 1998 Asian economic ‘meltdown’ serve as ready examples). Within this context of uncertainty, ‘sustainability’ remains an obvious and highly desired goal for many, as is obvious in the promotional tourist literature of many tropical countries, such as Costa Rica. Similarly, one hears from various quarters the desirability of improving ‘efficiency’ and also the concept that with high levels of development, environmental improvements are not only possible but likely (e.g. the environmental Kuznets curve; see Rothman and de Bruyn, 1998). Often these are seen as important rationales for far-reaching programmes, such as the structural adjustment programmes implemented in many tropical countries by the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (Lélé, 1991; Taylor, 1993) and even for large-scale conservation programmes (Goodland et al., 1990).

The concept of sustainability

What would constitute this sustainability, if indeed it were able to be achieved?