Many of the policies and other factors underlying poverty and environmental degradation are likewise closely linked. They originate in policies and governance structures at the local, sectoral, national and even international levels. Too often, inappropriate policy and regulatory frameworks prevent the poor- most notably women- from developing their capabilities and productive potential, and protecting the natural resource base on which they depend. Reducing poverty thus implies tackling the underlying causes, recognising that the poor are active part in the solution of both developmental and environmental problems
