A sustainable management of resources should ideally involve a combined consideration of ecological, economic, social and cultural aspects. Currently there is no consistent framework for such broad analyses, and the number of tools available for strategic resource management in such a context is limited. Based on a case-study in two Scandinavian Sami-villages a new framework for assessment of sustainable development in local projects is suggested. The framework has a focus on maintenance of human needs without compromising sustainable management of ecosystem resources in the operation. A local development project, involving changed practices in the operation of reindeer-herding, was followed over its first two years. Indicators of sustainable development were suggested from a process based on stakeholder participation. By standardized repeated interviews, aspects of major importance to the participants were identified. Data were also collected on activities and resource use. Economy together with flows of energy and matter were analyzed by a limited end-use system analysis. For the construction of individual indicators the SDR-model (Sustainable Development Records) was applied. This model emphasize the relationship between the purpose of an operation and its resource-base, including effects on a) long-term resource availability, b) efficiency of resource utilization and c) values added from the process. Finally, the relative trends in sustainable development were assessed from a framework of 42 indicators, chosen to illustrate the attainment of human needs and the associated change in resource-bases. Results are presented for the Sami-villages and the usefulness and relevance of the applied framework are discussed. It is concluded that the suggested framework shows good potential as a tool for the assessment of sustainability trends in local development projects. Further studies should be made on the practical effects from using such a framework.