.FESLM:AninternationalframeworkforevaluatingsustainablelandmanagementTableofcontentsWorldSoilResourcesReportNo.73FoodandAgricultureOrganizationoftheUnitedNations1993ADiscussionPaperA.J.SmythJ.DumanskiwithcontributionsbyG.SpendjianM.J.SwiftP.K.ThorntonJointlysponsoredby:FAOFoodandAgricultureOrganizationoftheUnitedNationsIBSRAMInternationalBoardforSoilResearchandManagementISSSInternationalSocietyofSoilScienceTSBFTropicalSoilBiologyandFertilityIFDCInternationalFertilizerDevelopmentCentreICRAFInternationalCentreforResearchinAgroforestryCTATechnicalCentreforAgriculturalandRuralCooperationACP-EECACIARAustralianCentreforInternationalAgriculturalResearchAgricultureCanadaUnitedStatesDepartmentofAgriculture-SoilConservationService(SMSS)LandandWaterDevelopmentDivisionFoodandAgricultureOrganizationoftheUnitedNations1993ThedesignationsemployedandthepresentationofmaterialinthispublicationdonotimplytheexpressionofanyopinionwhatsoeveronthepartoftheFoodandAgricultureOrganizationoftheUnitedNationsconcerningthelegalstatusofanycountry,territory,cityorareaorofitsauthorities,orconcerningthedelimitationofitsfrontiersorboundaries.M-59ISBN92-5-103419-2Allrightsreserved.Nopartofthispublicationmaybereproduced,storedinaretrievalsystem,ortransmittedinanyformorbyanymeans,electronic,mechanical,photocopyingorotherwise,withoutthepriorpermissionofthecopyrightowner.Applicationsforsuchpermission,withastatementofthepurposeandextentofthereproduction,shouldbeaddressedtotheDirector,PublicationsDivision,FoodandAgricultureOrganizationoftheUnitedNations,VialedelleTermediCaracalla,00100Rome,Italy.(c)FAO1993ContentsForewordIntroductionIssuesofsustainablelandmanagementChallengesforthefutureObjectivesofthereportAimChapter1:BackgroundandprinciplesNatureofsustainablelandmanagement(SLM)AspectsofsustainabilitySustainabilityandsuitabilitySustainabilityandstabilityClassifyingsustainability-StabilityandconfidenceSustainabilityandscaleDetailedandgeneralizedformsofsustainabilityevaluationPrinciplesofsustainabilityevaluationChapter2:FESLM-ThegeneralapproachThegeneralapproachtosustainabilityappraisalUsingevaluationfactorsIndicators,criteriaandthresholdsAchievingflexibilityofsubjectmatterTheframeworkstructureThestructureinoutlineAfamilyofframeworksChapter3:StructureofthemasterframeworkChapter4:ConstructinganactionframeworkGettingstartedwithanactionframeworkEstablishingthepurposeLevel1:TheobjectivestatementLevel1:Aim,problemsandprocedureExamplesofobjectivestatementsinlocalframeworksLevel2:Themeansstatement(presentuse)Level2:Theaim,problemsandprocedureLevel2:Themeansstatement(additionaluses)UndertakingtheanalysisLevel3:EvaluationfactorsLevel3:Theaim,problems,procedureLevel4:Diagnosticcriteria:(cause/effectandobservations)Level4:Theaim,problems,procedureDiagnosticevidence:TheapproachpathsEvaluationfactors:ComplexandcomponentattributesCriteria:UnderstandingcauseandeffectLevel5:IndicatorsandthresholdsLevel5:Theaim,problems,andprocedureFinalanalysisChapter5:Off-siteevaluationGeneralActiveoff-siteeffectsPassiveoff-siteeffectsAllowingforoff-siteeffectsChapter6:UsingtheframeworkChapter7:Validating,reportingandmonitoringValidatingtheanalysisReportingMonitoringReferencesGlossaryWorldsoilresourcesreportsForewordThisworkingdocumenthasbeenpreparedasafocusforfutureworkonthedevelopmentofanInternationalFrameworkfortheEvaluationofSustainableLandManagement(FESLM).TheFrameworkisdesignedasastructured,logicalpathwayformakingdecisionsonwhetherornotacarefullydefinedformoflandmanagementislikelytoprovesustainableinadefinedsituationoveradefinedperiodoftime.Thelogicalpathwayapproachwasselectedbecauseourknowledgeofsustainabilitywillalwaysbeimperfect.Thisapproachassistsusinmakingdecisionsthatcanbesubstantiatedwithouthavingtowaitforallthefinaldata.ThedevelopmentoftheFrameworkandthepreparationofthisdocumenthavebeenguidedbyaninternationalworkinggroupforthispurpose.Membershipinthisworkinggroupis:J.Dumanski(AgricultureCanada),Chairman;M.Latham(IBSRAM),Secretary;C.S.Ofori(FAO);R.Hanson(TROPSOILS),H.Eswaran(USDA-SCS),P.K.Thornton(IFDC);andA.J.Smyth(Private).ThisworkinggrouphasbeenablyassistedfromtimetotimebyJ.K.Syers,E.Pushparajah,M.MausbachandR.L.Sawyer.Thisdocumentrepresentsthecollectivewisdomfromthisentiregroup.ThisdocumentmakesnoattempttoreviewtherapidlyexpandingrangeofliteratureonsustainabilitybutisbasedonfourseminaldocumentsandondiscussionsinWorkingGroupsorganisedbytheInternationalBoardforSoilResearchandManagement(IBSRAM)atChiangRai,Thailandin1991;Nairobi,Kenyain1992;inWashingtonDC,USAin1992;andinLethbridge,Canadain1993.ThedocumentsthathaveshapedthecurrentformoftheFESLMare:PublicAdvisoryCommitteestotheEnvironmentalCouncilofAlberta.AlbertaConservationStrategy:FrameworkforAction:ADraftforPublicDiscussion.Edmonton.1990.Dumanski,J.,Eswaran,H.andLatham,M.Cr