Although the impacts of these imbalances are not fully apparent in the short run, they pose formidable challenges to the sustainability of development of the LDCs, particularly in the long run. The production system, especially in the agriculture sector, and the livelihoodsof alargemajorityof the people livingin rural and fragile areas are also adversely affected because of the increased frequency of droughts and other extreme weather events associated with climate change. Thus, as ensuring food security becomes increasingly important in these countries as the population grows, measures are needed to protect natural capital and address ecological imbalances.