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Forest recovery following shifting cultivation: an overview of existing research [ 363-373 ]Teegalapalli Karthik, Gopi G V and Prasanna K SamalAbstract Shifting cultivation is a predominant practice in the majority of tropical hilly tracts. Relatively few studies have examined forest recovery following shifting cultivation and we have reviewed these studies to identify and synthesize general recovery patterns. Most studies report that, although pioneer tree species recover relatively faster, woody biomass of mature forest trees recovers several decades after suspension of cultivation. Analysis of bird-species inventories in 10 studies revealed that up to 70% of mature forest birds may recover in successional sites and that species composition is about 55% similar to that in mature forests within 25 years. Results of mammal studies were likely to have been confounded by hunting effects and therefore the effect of time since suspension of cultivation and hunting impacts need to be investigated separately. As shown by a few studies, we conclude that community recovery can be expected to be accelerated when relatively large forest tracts adjoin a shifting cultivation landscape, in comparison with recovery in sites with shorter fallow cycles in the absence of contiguous forests, which act as sources for recolonization of fauna and vegetation. Full Text PDF General interest news article General interest summaries (when available)
Español: En este trabajo los autores revisan el estado de conocimiento acerca de la restauración de la selva después del uso de la tierra para cultivos de temporal. Los autores indican que los cultivos de temporal son un factor de cambio importante en la destrucción de las selvas a nivel globa, pero que la practica provee de subsistencia a 300- 500 millones de habitantes en el planeta y esta íntimamente ligada a aspectos culturales, ecológicos y económicos de las comunidades. Sin embargo, los autores notan que las parcelas abandonadas despues de los cultivos de temporal muestran una recuperación mas rápida (en términos de áreas basales) y en acumulación de especies que otros tipos de parcelas modificadas por la actividad humana y posteriormente abandonadas, tales como pastizales, sitios de agroforestería y plantaciones. Los autores argumentan que la práctica de cultivos de temporal puede ser sustentable y conserva la biodiversidad local en los paisajes, siempre y cuando selvas remanentes en estos también sean conservadas. Français: Dans leur article sur la restauration des forêts soumises à la culture itinérante, Teegalapalli et ses coauteurs montrent que la culture itinérante est globalement considérée comme une cause essentielle de la déforestation. Mais la pratique se maintient car elle assure la subsistance de 300 à 500 millions de personnes à travers le monde et est étroitement liée aux traditions culturelles, écologiques et économiques des communautés. Les auteurs notent que, en ce qui concerne la surface terrière, la régénération et la quantité des espèces, il a été démontré que les jachères, qui font partie intégrante de la culture itinérante, permettent une reconstitution de la végétation plus rapide que dans les terres modifiées par l’homme puis abandonnées, comme les pâturages, les sites agroforestiers et les plantations. Ils soutiennent que la pratique de la culture itinérante peut être une pratique durable concourant à la biodiversité dans l’ensemble des situations lorsque l’on préserve de grandes portions de forêts matures. Português: Na sua revisão sobre a cobertura florestal após agricultura itinerante, Teegalapalli e co-autores demonstram que a agricultura itinerante é considerada como a maior responsável pelo desmatamento global, mas a prática persiste pois proporciona subsistência para pelo menos 300 a 500 milhões de pessoas no mundo e é intrinsecamente ligada aos aspectos culturais, ecológicos, e econômicos das comunidades. Os autores observaram que a agricultura itinerante tem mostrado recobrir a vegtação mais rapidamente em termos de área basal, regeneração, e acúmulo de espécies mais do que outros solos modifcados pelo homem e subsequentemente abandonados, como pastagens, agroflorestas e plantações. Eles argumentam que a prática da agricultura itinerante pode ser sustentável e suportar a biodiversidade em cenário global, se grandes porções de floresta relativamente maduras forem preservadas. Translation to French by Clément Lermyte, Spanish by Alejandro Estrada, Portuguese by Marina Lapenta The opinions expressed in reader comments are those of the author only, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of other authors or Tropical Conservation Science. |
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Tropical Conservation Science is an open-access e-journal that publishes research relating to conservation of tropical forests and other tropical ecosystems.
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