When conserving the environment the number of people, where they live, and how they live can have a great affect on the health of the ecoregion. Rural poverty and a high population growth rate not only alter the environment, but can pose challenges for policy makers. The population-health-environment (PHE) approach to development acknowledges the interconnectedness between people and their environment. Opportunities and challenges of integrated programming were explored by the Institute of Resource Assessment at the University of Dar es Salaam. It was found that many projects recognized the links between areas of development, but the projects still remained single-sector in their actions. Through the Local Government Reform Program, the government tried to implement a decentralization that would turn policy directives into community actions that fostered integration. While it has been concluded that more research is necessary on population-health-environment interactions on the community and national scale, it has shown success on the community scale. Progress in these areas will produce more effective, participatory development efforts that increase human well-being and sustain healthy environments.