A group of high-level policymakers, representatives from local organizations, researchers, and non-governmental representatives at work in countries where hillsides play an important role convened in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, last December. They met to discuss the potential of fragile land hillside regions in Latin America for meeting three important development objectives: agricultural growth, natural resource sustainability, and poverty alleviation. The participants met for four and a half days of working groups and plenary sessions (which included commissioned papers on specific topics of interest) and visits to hillside areas to meet with inhabitants confronting the dilemmas under discussion at the conference.

The specific objectives of the conference were to:

• Analyze the current situation as regards the three "sustainable development" objectives of environmental sustainability, food production adequate to meet growing needs, and poverty reduction for the hillsides of Latin America
• Examine current strategies being implemented for the development of these hillside regions;
• Recommend policies specific to hillsides that can integrate "sustainable development" objectives;
• Develop a list of priorities for policy research to promote the sustainable development of Latin American hillsides;
• Prepare actions needed to integrate national and international research in Latin American hillsides; and
• Promote interaction among researchers, development agents, and policymakers around the theme of sustainable development for hillside regions.

To order a workshop summary paper, please fill out an online order form, email ifpri-ept@cgiar.org or send requests to Environment and Production Technology Division, IFPRI, 2033 K Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20006, U.S.A.