Sustainable agriculture and the environment in the humid tropics / Committee on Sustainable Agriculture and the Environment in the Humid Tropics, Board on Agriculture and Board on Science and Technology for International Development, National Research Council.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

National Research Council (U.S.). Committee on Sustainable Agriculture and the Environment in the Humid Tropics.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Agricultural systems--Tropics.

Agricultural systems.

Sustainable agriculture--Tropics.

Sustainable agriculture.

Land use, Rural--Tropics.

Land use, Rural.

Agricultural ecology--Tropics.

Agricultural ecology.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (720 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Other Title:

Humid tropics

Humid tropics.

Place of Publication:

Washington, D.C. : National Academy Press, 1993.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Rain forests 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.

Contents:

Sustainable Agriculture and the Environment in the HUMID TROPICS

Copyright

Preface

Acknowledgments

Contents

Executive Summary

FINDINGS

LANDSCAPE MANAGEMENT: A GLOBAL REQUIREMENT

THE HUMID TROPICS

Forest Conversion

CAUSES OF FOREST CONVERSION

CONSEQUENCES OF FOREST CONVERSION

Agriculture in the Humid Tropics

Adopting an Integrated Approach to Land Use

SUSTAINABLE LAND USE OPTIONS

RECOMMENDATIONS

Technical Research Needs

DOCUMENTATION OF LAND USE SYSTEMS

INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE

MONITORING

Policy Strategies

POLICY REVIEWS

GLOBAL EQUITY

Supporting Sustainable Agriculture

CREATION OF AN ENABLING ENVIRONMENT

INCENTIVES

PARTNERSHIPS

CONCLUSION

PART ONE

1 Agriculture and the Environment in the Humid Tropics

FOREST CHARACTERISTICS AND BENEFITS

Local and Global Climatic Interactions

Biological Diversity

Products and Commodities

Nutrient Cycling

Protection of Soils

Stabilization of Hydrological Systems

Water Availability and Quality

Mitigation of Storm Impacts

CONVERSION OF HUMID TROPIC FORESTS

Deforestation Rates Within Regions of the Humid Tropics

Causes of Forest Conversion

Historical Patterns of Forest Conversion

Consequences of Forest Conversion

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES

SOCIAL CONSEQUENCES

ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES

SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE IN THE HUMID TROPICS

Constraints on Agricultural Productivity

CLIMATE

SOILS

BIOLOGICAL FACTORS

The Path to Sustainable Agriculture

THE NEED FOR AN INTEGRATED APPROACH

MOVING TOWARD SUSTAINABILITY

2 Sustainable Land Use Options

INTENSIVE CROPPING SYSTEMS

The Development of Intensive Agriculture

Programs and Research Activities

Implications for Forest Boundary Stabilization

SHIFTING CULTIVATION

Stabilization Guidelines.

Managed Fallows and Forests in Mexico: An Example

Low-Input Cropping: A Transition Technology

AGROPASTORAL SYSTEMS

Features and Benefits of Agropastoral Farms

Requirements for Greater Sustainability

CATTLE RANCHING

Cattle Pastureland in Asia

Cattle Pastureland in Africa

Cattle Pastureland in Latin America

Pasture Degradation: A Common Feature

Reclamation of Degraded Pasture on Deforested Lands

The Appropriate Pasture Technology for Sustainability

AGROFORESTRY SYSTEMS

Types of Traditional Agroforestry Systems in the Humid Tropics

Improved Agroforestry Systems

IMPROVED TREES AND WOODY SHRUBS

ARRANGEMENT OF TREES, CROPS, AND LIVESTOCK

Advantages and Disadvantages of Agroforestry

Research Priorities

MIXED TREE SYSTEMS

Past and Present Forest Management

Mixed Tree Systems Throughout the World

The Role of Mixed Tree Systems in Tropical Forest Conservation

PERENNIAL TREE CROP PLANTATIONS

Plantation Crops and Economic Development

Environmental Effects

Investments for Sustainability

PLANTATION FORESTRY

REGENERATING AND SECONDARY FORESTS

Factors Affecting Forest Regeneration

SHORT-TERM FACTORS

LONG-TERM FACTORS

Fire

Acceleration of Forest Regeneration

THE ROLE OF SECONDARY FORESTS

NATURAL FOREST MANAGEMENT

Forest Management in the Humid Tropics

Management Systems

UNIFORM SHELTERWOOD SYSTEMS

STRIP SHELTERWOOD SYSTEMS

SELECTION SYSTEMS

Constraints on Sustainable Forestry

MODIFIED FORESTS

FOREST RESERVES

Defining a Role for Extractive Reserves

3 Technological Imperatives for Change

KNOWLEDGE ABOUT LAND USE OPTIONS

A Comparison of Land Use System Attributes

Indigenous Knowledge and Production Systems

LAND USE DESIGN AND MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS

Sustainability and the Integration of Land Uses.

Land Use Patterns and Land Classification

Maintenance of Biomass

Monitoring Systems and Methodologies

ECOLOGICAL GUIDELINES FOR SYSTEMS MANAGEMENT

TECHNICAL NEEDS COMMON TO ALL LAND USE OPTIONS

Pest Management

Water Management

COMMODITY-SPECIFIC RESEARCH NEEDS

4 Policy-Related Imperatives for Change

MANAGING FOREST AND LAND RESOURCES

Reviews of Existing Policies

Planning of Major Infrastructure Projects

National Resource Management Agencies

Biodiversity

Global Equity Considerations

REFERENCES

APPENDIX Emissions of Greenhouse Gases from Tropical Deforestation and Subsequent Uses of the Land

EFFECTS OF LAND USE CHANGE ON GLOBAL CLIMATE

MAJOR LAND USE CHANGES RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FLUX OF GREENHOUSE GASES

Permanent Agriculture

Pastures

Degradation of Croplands and Pastures

Shifting Cultivation

TRADITIONAL LONG-ROTATION SHIFTING CULTIVATION

SHORT-ROTATION SHIFTING CULTIVATION

ENCROACHING CULTIVATION

Tree Plantations

Logging

Degraded Forests

ESTIMATED FLUX OF GREENHOUSE GASES FROM LAND USE CHANGES

Carbon

BIOMASS BURNING

TROPICAL SYSTEMS AS CARBON SINKS

Other Greenhouse Gases

METHANE

NITROUS OXIDE

CARBON MONOXIDE

Total Radiative Effect from All Gases Released as a Result of Tropical Deforestation

ESTIMATING FUTURE IMPACTS

Carbon Accounting Models

Models that Integrate Socioeconomic and Ecologic Aspects of Land Use Change

FACTORS AFFECTING LAND USE CHANGES

MODELS

SUSTAINABILITY AND THE REDUCTION OF FUTURE IMPACTS

Agroforestry

Carbon Sinks

Priorities for Future Research

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

PART TWO

Country Profiles

Brazil

BASIS FOR SUSTAINABILITY ANALYSIS OF AMAZONIAN AGRICULTURE

THE BRAZILIAN HUMID TROPICS

The Environment

Macroecologic Units

AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT.

Chronological Agricultural Development

Physical and Economic Agricultural Development

AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT IN NORTHEASTERN PARÁ

AGRICULTURE IN VÁRZEA FLOODPLAINS

AGRICULTURE IN FRONTIER EXPANSION AREAS

AGRICULTURE IN OFFICIAL COLONIZATION AREAS

AREAS OF FOREST PRODUCT EXTRACTION

DEFORESTATION FOR AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT

Extent of Deforestation

Rate of Deforestation

Environmental Impacts of Deforestation

MACROLIMITATIONS FOR SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT

Climate

Biotic Pressure

Soil-Related Limitations

Sociocultural Limitations

Political Limitations

ENVIRONMENTAL BOTTLENECKS FOR SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT

PRESENT KNOWLEDGE BASE FOR AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT

Domestication of Nontimber Forest Extraction Products

Natural Resources-Climate, Soil, and Vegetation

Forest Exploration

Annual Food and Fiber Crops

Perennial Crops

Pastures and Animal Production

Aquaculture

Agroindustrial Technology

Basic Knowledge

DIFFUSION AND UTILIZATION OF TECHNOLOGY

AMAZONIAN AGRICULTURAL LAND USE SYSTEMS AND THEIR SUSTAINABILITIES

Extraction of Nontimber Forest Products

SUSTAINABILITY OF NONTIMBER RESOURCE EXTRACTION

RESEARCH NEEDS

Extraction of Timber Products

SUSTAINABILITY OF TIMBER EXTRACTION

Shifting Agriculture in Upland Areas

SUSTAINABILITY OF SHIFTING AGRICULTURE IN UPLAND AREAS

Várzea Floodplain Agriculture

SUSTAINABILITY OF FLOODPLAIN AGRICULTURE

Cattle Raising on Pastures that Have Replaced Forests

SUSTAINABILITY OF CATTLE RAISING

Cattle Raising on Native Grassland Ecosystems

WELL-DRAINED SAVANNAH GRASSLANDS (WDSG)

CATTLE RAISING ON ALLUVIAL FLOODPLAIN (VÁRZEA) GRASSLANDS (FPG)

CATTLE RAISING ON POORLY DRAINED SAVANNAH GRASSLANDS (PDSG).

Perennial Crop Agriculture

SUSTAINABILITY OF PERENNIAL CROP AGRICULTURE

LAND USE INTENSITY, RESEARCH, AND TECHNOLOGY: THE KEY FOR SUSTAINABILITY

Institutional Capacity

A FUTURE SCENARIO

EXPANSION POTENTIAL OF PRESENT LAND USE SYSTEMS

Côte d'Ivoire

POPULATION

FOREST RESOURCES

DOMESTIC ECONOMY

AGRICULTURE

Export Crops

Food Crops

Sources of Agricultural Growth

CAUSES OF DEFORESTATION

Principal Causes

LOGGING

FUELWOOD

CATTLE GRAZING

Underlying Causes of Deforestation

LAND TENURE REGIMES

GOVERNMENT POLICIES

EFFECTS OF DEFORESTATION

Climate and Microclimate

Agricultural Productivity

Forest Damage and Timber Production Potential

AGRICULTURAL INTERVENTIONS AND SUSTAINABILITY

Technological Interventions

ORGANIC MATTER

MULCHES AND COVER CROPS

INORGANIC FERTILIZERS

AGROFORESTRY

CONSERVATION TILLAGE

Policy Interventions

SECURE PROPERTY RIGHTS

FISCAL POLICIES

CREDIT, PRICE POLICIES, AND MARKETS

SUMMARY

Three Deforestation Scenarios

TECHNOLOGY OPTIONS

POLICY OPTIONS

Indonesia

DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTRY AND ITS TROPICAL FORESTS

Population

Agriculture

Forest Resources

DESIGNATED FORESTLANDS

PRODUCTION FORESTS

Ecologic Characteristics and Issues

BIOGEOGRAPHICAL DIVERSITY

Economic Activity

Economic Importance of Forestry

TIMBER PRODUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT OF PRIMARY WOOD-BASED INDUSTRIES

DEVELOPMENT OF SECONDARY WOOD-BASED INDUSTRIES

Contribution of Forestry to the National Economy

HISTORICAL ASPECTS AND CAUSES OF DEFORESTATION

Rates of Deforestation

Population Pressure and Demand for Agricultural Land

Logging in Natural Forests

Transmigration Program.

Tree Crop Development.

Notes:

Bibliographic Level Mode of Issuance: Monograph

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9786610211616

9781280211614

128021161X

9780309588409

0309588405

9780585037394

0585037396

OCLC:

666937076