‘‘Slash and Burn’’ and ‘‘Shifting’’ cultivation systems in forest agriculture frontiers from the Brazilian Amazon

TY - JOUR

T1 - ‘‘Slash and Burn’’ and ‘‘Shifting’’ cultivation systems in forest agriculture frontiers from the Brazilian Amazon

AU - van Vliet, Nathalie

AU - Adams, Cristina

AU - Vieira, Ima Célia Guimarães

AU - Mertz, Ole

PY - 2013/12

Y1 - 2013/12

N2 - We analyze changes in the extent of slash and burn cultivation (SBC) and shifting cultivation (SC) and the main drivers of change observed in the last 10 years across the Brazilian Amazon. Our results show that SC is stable in indigenous and caboclo communities from Amazonas and Acre. SBC increases along new roads, illustrating how roads shape deforestation frontiers beyond the "arc of deforestation." In established forest frontiers, the conversion of forests into pasture or cash crops through SBC continues to increase locally, but smallholders' diversification strategies translate into complex land uses with both the increase and decrease of SBC and SC observed locally. Secure land tenure, access to markets, and population increase appear to be driving to the classic intensification path. Overall, access to cash transfer programs has helped stabilize forest frontiers as households become less reliant on subsistence agricultural production.

AB - We analyze changes in the extent of slash and burn cultivation (SBC) and shifting cultivation (SC) and the main drivers of change observed in the last 10 years across the Brazilian Amazon. Our results show that SC is stable in indigenous and caboclo communities from Amazonas and Acre. SBC increases along new roads, illustrating how roads shape deforestation frontiers beyond the "arc of deforestation." In established forest frontiers, the conversion of forests into pasture or cash crops through SBC continues to increase locally, but smallholders' diversification strategies translate into complex land uses with both the increase and decrease of SBC and SC observed locally. Secure land tenure, access to markets, and population increase appear to be driving to the classic intensification path. Overall, access to cash transfer programs has helped stabilize forest frontiers as households become less reliant on subsistence agricultural production.

U2 - 10.1080/08941920.2013.820813

DO - 10.1080/08941920.2013.820813

M3 - Journal article

SN - 0894-1920

VL - 26

SP - 1454

EP - 1467

JO - Society and Natural Resources

JF - Society and Natural Resources

IS - 12

ER -