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This research paper by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) examines the transport services sector within the Southern African Customs Union (SACU), focusing on the need for harmonisation and liberalisation across road, rail, maritime, and air transport to enhance regional economic integration and global competitiveness.

This report presents a pilot Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of hydropower development in Viet Nam, conducted by the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) for the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT). The study evaluates the hydropower plans within the context of Power Development Plan (PDP) VI, comparing the base scenario against alternatives where hydropower is replaced by thermal power. The SEA concludes that while hydropower is the least-cost option for meeting energy demands, current mitigation measures for social and environmental impacts are inadequate. It proposes a comprehensive mitigation framework based on international best practices, including the Impoverishment, Risk and Reconstruction (IRR) model for displaced people and community forestry for the zones of influence. The report recommends the full institutionalization of SEA into the PDP VII process to internalize external costs and ensure sustainable development.

This research paper by the World Resources Institute (WRI) evaluates the economic contribution of coral reefs and mangroves to Belize's national economy, focusing on tourism, fisheries, and shoreline protection. The study highlights a significant gap between the high economic value these ecosystems provide and the low level of investment in their management, particularly within the Marine Protected Area (MPA) system.

This briefing by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) analyzes various proposals for operationalizing technology cooperation within the UNFCCC framework ahead of the 2009 Copenhagen negotiations. It contrasts the institutional and financial preferences of the G77 + China, the European Union, and other nations, while proposing a comprehensive evaluation framework based on legal principles, specific actions across the technology chain, and institutional mandates. The document also includes a position paper from the Climate Action Network (CAN) advocating for a dedicated Technology Cooperation Mechanism and a Technology Fund to ensure the measurable, reportable, and verifiable (MRV) transfer of environmentally sound technologies (ESTs) to developing countries.

The Manila Declaration is a statement issued by Indigenous Peoples and support organisations from 35 countries during a conference held in March 2009. It condemns the unsustainable exploitation of Indigenous territories by extractive industries, highlighting the resulting environmental degradation, human rights violations, and contributions to climate change. The document calls for a moratorium on new projects, the recognition of Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC), and systemic reforms across states, corporations, and international financial institutions to protect Indigenous rights and ecological integrity.

This briefing by the Center for International Environmental Law summarizes the proceedings of the 18th session of the WIPO Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights (SCCR-18) held in May 2009. The document details debates over a proposed Broadcast Treaty, the establishment of international exceptions and limitations to copyright for education and the disabled, and the ongoing effort to harmonize international protection for audiovisual (AV) performers.

This 2009 position paper by Friends of the Earth International defines and critiques 'destructive logging,' identifying it as a primary driver of forest destruction often carried out by transnational corporations. The document argues that flawed political frameworks, corruption, and unsustainable timber demand facilitate these practices, which undermine the rights of indigenous and local communities and cause severe environmental degradation.

This 2009 briefing analyzes Namibia's agricultural sector and food security strategies. It highlights that while Namibia faced rising food prices, a conservative pricing agreement between producers and millers mitigated the impact. The report details the country's reliance on subsistence farming for 1.5 million people and the government's efforts to increase food security through irrigation (the Green Scheme), import controls on staples and horticulture, and targeted subsidies for communal farmers. It also discusses Namibia's trade position within SACU, SADC, and the WTO, emphasizing its status as a net food-importing developing country.

This guide provides a comprehensive checklist for governments and stakeholders to evaluate the sustainable development impacts of investment incentives. It emphasizes a multi-level analysis covering individual projects, general incentive policy design, and the influence of international agreements, arguing that economic growth alone is an insufficient measure of success.

This field report details a December 2006 workshop designed to pilot the 'Conflict Sensitivity in Conservation (CSC) Manual' using conflict scenarios from Queen Elizabeth National Park (QENP) in Uganda. The report documents the application of conflict analysis tools—including conflict trees, conflict mapping, and stakeholder analysis—to identify and prioritise natural resource-based conflicts, their root causes, and potential entry points for intervention by conservation and development organisations.

This report documents a three-day workshop held from December 5 to 7, 2006, in Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo. The workshop aimed to strengthen the capacity of the Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature (ICCN) to manage and resolve conflicts related to natural resources within Virunga National Park. Facilitated by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), and WWF, the event focused on conflict analysis tools, the identification of primary drivers of conflict in the park, and the development of strategic intervention plans.

The Conflict-Sensitive Conservation Practitioners’ Manual, published by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) in 2009, provides a framework for conservation NGOs and protected area authorities to integrate conflict sensitivity into their operations. The guide aims to help practitioners minimize the risk of inadvertently exacerbating conflicts and maximize opportunities for peacebuilding, particularly in conflict zones where natural resources can be both a source of tension and a foundation for stability.

This practitioner's guide, published by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), provides a framework for integrating conflict sensitivity into conservation activities. It aims to help NGOs and protected area managers minimize the risk of inadvertently exacerbating conflicts and maximize opportunities for peacebuilding, particularly in volatile regions where natural resource management often intersects with social and political tensions.

This briefing by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and the World Agroforestry Centre (ASB-ICRAF) outlines key messages for the Copenhagen climate talks based on workshops held in Vietnam and Kenya. It advocates for the inclusion of Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD) and agriculture in international climate agreements, while emphasizing the need for balanced measurement requirements, regional cooperation to prevent leakage, and a phased implementation approach to support varying levels of national capacity.

This 2009 report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) provides a Rapid Trade and Environment Assessment (RTEA) for Ecuador. It analyzes the intersection of international trade, foreign direct investment (FDI), and environmental sustainability, focusing on five key sectors: flowers, shrimp, timber, tourism, and mining. The document highlights a systemic tension where economic growth driven by raw material exports often occurs at the expense of critical ecosystems, such as mangroves and native forests, and notes a lack of coordinated state policy to integrate environmental costs into productive models.

This 2009 case study by the Central Institute for Economic Management (CIEM) and the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the impact of investment incentives on the mining and quarrying industry in Vietnam between 2000 and 2006. The report finds that while tax incentives are highly valued by foreign invested enterprises (FIEs), they are not a prerequisite for investment decisions and have failed to drive sustainable development behaviors. FIEs outperformed domestic firms economically but showed passive approaches to social welfare and environmental protection, often doing only the minimum required by law.

This case study examines the impact of investment incentives on the chemical and pharmaceutical industry in Indonesia, specifically focusing on the Banten province. It analyzes the evolution of Indonesian investment laws, the effectiveness of these incentives in attracting foreign direct investment (FDI), and the resulting socio-economic and environmental consequences.

This 2009 report by the National Economic Research Institute, commissioned by the IISD and IUCN, examines the role of the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) in managing the rapid growth of the plantation industry in Lao PDR. It highlights a critical gap between the MPI's role as the final investment decision-maker and its limited capacity to integrate environmental and social considerations into that process, recommending stronger inter-agency coordination and the establishment of monitoring systems.

This executive summary describes the Circumpolar Young Leaders (CYL) program and other initiatives aimed at training the next generation of northern leaders to address sustainable development in the Arctic. It identifies systemic barriers facing northern youth and recommends a coordinated regional strategy to build leadership capacity through education, mentorship, and increased indigenous ownership of training programs.

This 2009 report by the Centro de Estudos de Integração e Desenvolvimento (CINDES) and the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the evolving relationship between Brazil's trade agenda and sustainable development (SD). While the Brazilian government has historically opposed linking trade negotiations to environmental and social standards, the report highlights how private actors, agribusiness, and transnational companies are increasingly forced to adopt these standards due to international market pressures, investment requirements, and unilateral measures from developed nations.