Natural Resources Management for Tropical Rural Development

Food security and water management, availability of medicinal plants, conservation of biological and cultural diversity, valorisation of local traditions are some of the major problems that affect the development of rural areas in not developed areas overseas. The level of intensifications and environmental impact of the different solutions possible to face these problems must be carefully considered case by case. Modern technologies can bring consistent increase of productivity in advanced areas; at the same time costly technologies with high environmental impact cannot be proposed in marginal areas where, instead, sustainable solutions can be implemented with reduced costs and can be based on the scientific modernization of local traditions.The university course in Natural Resources Management for Tropical Rural Development (MSc university degree) of the University of Florence with the participation of Agenzia Italiana per la Cooperazione allo Sviluppo, promotes research and professional training in the sectors of modern and sustainable agriculture, forestry and animal sciences, and identifies as preferential area of intervention the little and medium farms of the less industrialized areas of the globe.