27. rt eas observed thac there is a lack of reaaliry available data about thepractical experience ln human re30urca3 development that eould permit analysesof past investrnent in and development of hunan regources. rn this connectlon,the important rore played by a nunber of partner countrres of least developedcountries and by the Unlted Nations Developnent progranne in assisting theleast developed countries to develop their bunan resources and identifvpr iorities was emphasi zed. C. Natural resources and enerov 28. In the sphere of nalural resources and energy, the targets of thesubstantial Nee pr@rarune of Action remain entirely ualid. despite tbe factthat tbey have not vet been achieved. The energy deflcit exper ienced by mostleast developed countries often leads to thelr balances of payrnents beingheavily nortqaged, as well as to destructlve consequences on the environmenE.Most least developed countries have lacked the financial, human and naterialmeans to be able to assess and plan thelr traditlonal and other energyresources in a sufficiently cornpr ehensive nanner, eith the result that therational exploitation of Chese resources has thus far been inpedeal. 29. Thus, the intensive use of fuelrrood and charcoal has t.hree conseguences:a tendency tooards the depletion of chese resources, the deqradation of theecosystem and the seakening of the agricultural potential. Efforts tosubstitute the consumption of fuelwood by other resources hase not l,et yielde.ithe results aotic ipated. 30, Despite the decline in real terns of the internationalthe cost of inportirq energy productg renains heavy for thecountr ies.pr ice of energ y, least developed 31. For lack of financial and technlcal neans. the hydroelectrlc resources ofthe least deueloped countries continue to be under exploitecl , Investnents rnthis sector often haue the tuofold characteristic of requiring veryconBiderabre financiat resources and of not invariably offering profitabilitvsufficlent to guarantee the covering of recurrent costs. The advantagesafforded by small-scale hydroelectric schenes have not yet been fullyexploited.^/40 /989 /AAd.r0 Enqlish Page 16
**Analysis**
The text discusses the challenges faced by least developed countries in developing their natural resources, including energy and human resources. It highlights the importance of international assistance and cooperation in this process. The text also mentions the depletion of natural resources, environmental degradation, and the impact on agriculture and the economy. These themes suggest that the text is primarily focused on economic development and environmental issues.

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