The article discusses the importance of using an integrated approach to research to address poverty and environmental sustainability. It emphasizes the need for including participatory methods, analyzing systems at different scales, and using various tools for impact assessment. Integrated natural resource management is highlighted as a key pathway to rural prosperity, involving tradeoffs among different issues. The concept of sustainable development relies on local communities' abilities to observe, innovate, and collaborate. By supporting boundary work, conflicts in governance can be resolved, leading to win-win solutions. The research emphasizes the importance of context and options in addressing complex social-ecological systems.