Swidden cultivation continues as the economic mainstray of upland communities in many countries in Southeast Asia. These communities may be located on tye forest margins or in grassland ecosystems (particularly the Imperata cylindrica grasslands that occupy about 35 million hectares in the region). They share the challenges posed by mountainous terrain: sparse road infrastructure and distant markets constrain alternative livelihood options. The circumstances that historically underpinned the sustainability of long-fallow swiddening, however, have largely vanished. These conditions included extensive tracts of forested lands, sparse population densities, and few opportunities to produce surpluses for outside markets.
Publication year
1997
Authors
Language
English
Keywords
shifting cultivation, imperata cylindrica, trees, imperata cylindrica
