A National Environmental Plan was created ten years after the advent of the ^Second Republic. It took nearly five years for a global action in this area to take place, after the proliferation of Ideas and expertise and then hesitation to continue to develop a global action in this area. The environment was not yet seen as a priority, while the country was busy planning in many sectors. However, the Forest Plan, the Agricultural Policy Letter, the Population Policy Declaration, the Health Plan, all in their own way shaped the country's environment. But it took the determination of partners and donors to help the Government initiate and then successfully complete this new Plan, which was painstaking work and was often thwarted by the ups and downs of the nation's economic and political life.