Mankind has been creating, maintaining, and converting Imperata cylindrica grasslands for centuries. As human population increases, and forests disappear, many believe that these grasslands are a largely under-utilised resource. In S.E. Asia Imperata grasslands cover an estimated 35 million ha. A more intensive use of this area can increase their contribution to the local and national economies, and enhance their environmental services. The ‘Imperata issue’, however, has many aspects and naïve simple solutions do not work. The objective of this lecture is to illustrate options for more productive land use of Imperata grasslands, building on local and generic (‘scientific’) knowledge, and acknowledging the multiple constraints at policy, institutional, technical and economic levels and to discuss the technical requirements for shade-based control of Imperata in agroforestry systems
Publication year
2000
Authors
Hairiah, D.K.; Purnomosidhi P; van Noordwijk, M.
Language
English
Keywords
Agroforestry, Deforestation, Grasslands, Imperata, Reclamation
