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1. Interactions within resource systems
2. Location and design of regional development projects
3. Planning the regional spatial system and settlement pattern
4. Conclusions and implications

Transformation of natural resources for human development requires careful analysis of ecosystems within sub-national regions, because in nearly all developing countries regional resource systems and socioeconomic characteristics differ widely. National policies for resource development that do not take regional differences into consideration usually create benefits for some areas of the country at the expense of others, and produce adverse effects on those areas in which national policies are not appropriate.

The need for regional analysis and planning is becoming more widely recognized not only because regional resource systems differ from each other within developing countries, but also because within regions elements of the resource system are inextricably linked. Decisions about the design and location of development projects, such as dams and irrigation systems, can have strong impacts on regional ecosystems. Moreover, the regional pattern of human settlement is strongly affected by and, in turn, affects resource use and transformation.