Resources for the Future, Inc. (RFF) is a nonprofit, tax exempt corporation headquartered in Washington, D.C. RFF's purpose is to advance research and education in the development, conservation, and use of natural resources, including improvement of the quality of the environment. Most of its programs are carried out by resident staff, but a few are supported through grants to universities and other nonprofit organizations. Most studies are in the social sciences and are broadly concerned with relationships of people to the natural environment. Provided in this report is a selected representation of RFF's research programs and activities, concentrating on new projects and completed work. Programs and activities are described under the following headings: Energy and Materials (international oil markets and energy security, petroleum exploration in developing countries, transport fuels in developing countries, natural gas research program, effects of coal policy, mineral economics and policy, atmospheric impacts of global development, economics of space); Symposium (the International Atomic Energy Agency and nonproliferation); Quality of the Environment (data lack stymies benefits work, questioning methodology, contingent valuation, benefits of avoiding giardiasis, fish and hydropower, microeconometric analysis of producer behavior, current issues in U.S. Environmental Policy, reducing hazardous wastes); Workshop (discounting future lives); Renewable Resources (solving long-term water problems, agricultural sources of water pollution, barriers to forest products trade, forests and biological diversity); and National Center for Food and Agricultural Policy. Also included is a presidential essay ("The Forgotten Hinterlands: Rural America" by Emery N. Castle, RFF president), conferences and workshops, publications (six books and one study), fellowship and grant programs, and information on policy education, outside staff activities and publications, staff changes, independent accountants, and support sources. (TRS)