Behind any debate about desertification looms•t.ne over-riding anxiety: can the use Ot dry laads be sustained ? The cotwept of sustainability is at the Of en'hmnmentalismv (O'Riordan 1988). and it is now being exairined as never betore (Redclift 1987; Clark and Munn 1986; Turner. 193B). The new Stimulus is the higher profile r.B1.ng given to wstainablity in the strategies Of organizations Eke the Worid Commson on Envimnment and Devebpment and the Worh Bank (Brunuand 1987: Hopper 1988).