The third landmark, the trade negotiations of the Uruguay Round, now in their final stage, have shown the fundamental role played by trade in development strategies. Here we have a sector in which developing countries find themselves in a situation of extreme marginalization. There are numerous and well-known obstacles to the efforts of developing countries which considerably reduce their ability to participate fully in world trade. Our goal should be, on the one hand, to eliminate tariff and non-tariff barriers and, on the other, to increase the capacity for processing, marketing, distribution and transport of commodities and products of developing countries. Lastly, economic growth and development are inextricably linked to the environment. Accordirg to the excellent Brundtland report, "Environmental degradation could undermine economic development''. The crisis of the environment is a major risk. In the Niger, we view this crisis with genuine concern. It is true that despite the efforts made, desertification has increased, creating dangerous imbalances in the Sahelian eco-system, and, beyond the Sahel, in that of all Africa. As recently stated by President Ali Saibou: "Emphasis should be placed on the control of surface and underground waters, on building reservoirs and agricultural dams, on the rational management of agricultural and livestock systems, on strengthening and adapting agricultural research and on developing irrigated crops, particularly off-season crops." In this connection, the Niger has placed much hope in the French initiative to create in the near future an observatory in the Sahara and the Sahel, which we hope will lead not only to basic and applied research activities in the area of environmental preservation but also to useful initiatives in the struggle against desertification and deforestation. JSM/gt A/S-18/PV. 4 57 (Mr. Bako, Niger) Similarly, we have high hopes that the 1992 conference on environment and development will adopt vigorous, concerted and global measures in this vital area 
**Analysis**
The text discusses the importance of trade in development strategies, the challenges faced by developing countries in participating in world trade, and the link between economic growth and environmental degradation. It also mentions the need to control desertification and deforestation in the Sahel region. Given these themes, it seems likely that the text falls under the categories related to economic development, natural resources and environment, and international trade.

**Category**
Economic development, Natural resources and environment, International trade