Shifting Cultivation and Secondary Succession in the Tropics
Title | Shifting Cultivation and Secondary Succession in the Tropics PDF eBook |
Author | Albert O. Aweto |
Publisher | CABI |
Pages | 208 |
Release | 2013-01-01 |
Genre | Technology & Engineering |
ISBN | 1780640439 |
Shifting cultivation is the predominant system of arable farming in the humid and sub-humid tropics, where several hundred million people depend on this system of agriculture for their livelihood. This book documents and systematizes findings in shifting cultivation from over the last six decades, including characterizing secondary succession and relating the changes that fallow vegetation undergoes to the process of soil fertility restoration. This book is essential reading for researchers and students of tropical agriculture and related areas.
Ecological Succession on Fallowed Shifting Cultivation Fields
Title | Ecological Succession on Fallowed Shifting Cultivation Fields PDF eBook |
Author | Claudio O. Delang |
Publisher | Springer Science & Business Media |
Pages | 132 |
Release | 2012-12-20 |
Genre | Science |
ISBN | 9400758219 |
The book reviews the literature on the ecological succession of plants on fallowed swiddens in tropical forests. Patterns of ecological succession in tropical forests are insufficiently understood, partly because results are scattered through a large number of case studies reported in academic articles. So far, no publication has attempted to bring these different case studies together to identify common patters and trends. The goal of the book is to review the different case studies, and identify common patterns of ecological succession in fallowed swiddens, as well as to pinpoint the factors that cause ecological succession in some areas to differ from those in other areas. The book is organised in four different sections: forest structure, forest diversity, species composition, and the factors that contribute to differences in forest recovery rates (the number of times the field was burned, the length of fallow period, the type of soil, and the type of forest). This book is an important contribution to tropical forestry and shifting cultivation. Deforestation and forest degradation are the largest sources of CO2, and shifting cultivation is one of the main culprits. For this (and other economic and political) reason governments attempt to curtail shifting cultivation by shortening the years the fields can be left fallow, or outright outlawing the farming practice. Yet, there is insufficient understanding of the processes of ecological succession in fallows, which raises the questions as to whether the policy fulfils its objectives.
Secondary Successions After Shifting Cultivation in a Dense Tropical Forest of Southern Cameroon (Central Africa)
Title | Secondary Successions After Shifting Cultivation in a Dense Tropical Forest of Southern Cameroon (Central Africa) PDF eBook |
Author | Barthélemy Tchiengué |
Publisher | |
Pages | 318 |
Release | 2012 |
Genre | |
ISBN |
Properties and Management of Soils in the Tropics
Title | Properties and Management of Soils in the Tropics PDF eBook |
Author | Pedro A. Sanchez |
Publisher | Cambridge University Press |
Pages | 685 |
Release | 2019-01-10 |
Genre | Business & Economics |
ISBN | 1107176050 |
Long-awaited second edition of classic textbook, brought completely up to date, for courses on tropical soils, and reference for scientists and professionals.
Tropical Forest Community Ecology
Title | Tropical Forest Community Ecology PDF eBook |
Author | Walter Carson |
Publisher | John Wiley & Sons |
Pages | 686 |
Release | 2011-08-31 |
Genre | Science |
ISBN | 1444356267 |
Historically, tropical ecology has been a science often content with descriptive and demographic approaches, which is understandable given the difficulty of studying these ecosystems and the need for basic demographic information. Nonetheless, over the last several years, tropical ecologists have begun to test more sophisticated ecological theory and are now beginning to address a broad array of questions that are of particular importance to tropical systems, and ecology in general. Why are there are so many species in tropical forests and what mechanisms are responsible for the maintenance of that vast species diversity? What factors control species coexistence? Are there common patterns of species abundance and distribution across broad geographic scales? What is the role of trophic interactions in these complex ecosystems? How can these fragile ecosystems be conserved? Containing contributions from some of the world’s leading tropical ecologists, Tropical Forest Community Ecology provides a summary of the key issues in the discipline of tropical ecology: Includes contributions from some of the world’s leading tropical ecologists Covers patterns of species distribution, the maintenance of species diversity, the community ecology of tropical animals, forest regeneration and conservation of tropical ecosystems
Shifting Cultivation and Environmental Change
Title | Shifting Cultivation and Environmental Change PDF eBook |
Author | Malcolm F. Cairns |
Publisher | Routledge |
Pages | 1057 |
Release | 2015-01-09 |
Genre | Nature |
ISBN | 1317750195 |
Shifting cultivation is one of the oldest forms of subsistence agriculture and is still practised by millions of poor people in the tropics. Typically it involves clearing land (often forest) for the growing of crops for a few years, and then moving on to new sites, leaving the earlier ground fallow to regain its soil fertility. This book brings together the best of science and farmer experimentation, vividly illustrating the enormous diversity of shifting cultivation systems as well as the power of human ingenuity. Some critics have tended to disparage shifting cultivation (sometimes called 'swidden cultivation' or 'slash-and-burn agriculture') as unsustainable due to its supposed role in deforestation and land degradation. However, the book shows that such indigenous practices, as they have evolved over time, can be highly adaptive to land and ecology. In contrast, 'scientific' agricultural solutions imposed from outside can be far more damaging to the environment and local communities. The book focuses on successful agricultural strategies of upland farmers, particularly in south and south-east Asia, and presents over 50 contributions by scholars from around the world and from various disciplines, including agricultural economics, ecology and anthropology. It is a sequel to the much praised "Voices from the Forest: Integrating Indigenous Knowledge into Sustainable Upland Farming" (RFF Press, 2007), but all chapters are completely new and there is a greater emphasis on the contemporary challenges of climate change and biodiversity conservation.
Sustainable Agriculture and the Environment in the Humid Tropics
Title | Sustainable Agriculture and the Environment in the Humid Tropics PDF eBook |
Author | National Research Council |
Publisher | National Academies Press |
Pages | 721 |
Release | 1993-02-01 |
Genre | Technology & Engineering |
ISBN | 0309047498 |
Rainforests are rapidly being cleared in the humid tropics to keep pace with food demands, economic needs, and population growth. Without proper management, these forests and other natural resources will be seriously depleted within the next 50 years. Sustainable Agriculture and the Environment in the Humid Tropics provides critically needed direction for developing strategies that both mitigate land degradation, deforestation, and biological resource losses and help the economic status of tropical countries through promotion of sustainable agricultural practices. The book includes: A practical discussion of 12 major land use options for boosting food production and enhancing local economies while protecting the natural resource base. Recommendations for developing technologies needed for sustainable agriculture. A strategy for changing policies that discourage conserving and managing natural resources and biodiversity. Detailed reports on agriculture and deforestation in seven tropical countries.