In general, the ability to maintain something indefinitely. In capacity building, sustainability means creating capacity that will remain in place and effective even after the initiative ends or the intervener departs. In development, it means meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. In the context of natural resources, sustainability refers to harnessing natural resources without depleting them. In the broader context of the environment, it means satisfying basic human needs while maintaining environmental quality.