Agricultural Land
Complementary ecosystem services from multiple land uses highlight the importance of tropical mosaic landscapesBackgroundTropical agricultural landscapes feature a mosaic of diverse land uses, yet the ecosystem service bundles and materials they provide to rural households remain poorly understood. In northeastern Madagascar, shifting cultivation for hillside rice production and agroforests for cash and subsistence crops have largely replaced old-growth forests. The landscape consists of forest fragments, small-scale vanilla agroforests, rice paddies, and subsistence farming plots at various stages of the shifting cultivation cycle. Open access copy available |
The 10 Elements of Agroecology: enabling transitions towards sustainable agriculture and food systems through visual narrativesBackgroundAgriculture and food systems around the world are failing to deliver the desired outcomes for food security and nutrition, creating an urgent need for transformative change to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. Addressing this challenge requires stakeholders to adopt holistic approaches that integrate population, diet, and food production, moving beyond a narrow focus on technological advancements and productivity. Agroecology, which incorporates social, political, and economic dimensions, provides a promising pathway to build sustainable and equitable food systems. Open access copy available |
Foresters' beliefs about farmers: a priority for social science research in social forestryBackgroundAvailable with subscription or purchase |
Reforesting Bare Hills in Vietnam: Social and Environmental Consequences of the 5 Million Hectare Reforestation ProgramBackgroundAvailable with subscription or purchase |
Alnus acuminata: Valuable Timber Tree for Tropical HighlandsBackgroundAlnus acuminata, also known as alder, is a nitrogen-fixing tree native to tropical highlands from Mexico to northern Argentina. It thrives in elevations between 1,200 and 3,200 meters, with annual rainfall of 1,000 to 3,000 mm and temperatures ranging from 4°C to 27°C. This species plays a significant role in watershed protection, soil enrichment, and sustainable timber production. Its adaptability to moist soils, including riverbanks and landslides, and its resilience in disturbed areas make it a valuable pioneer species. Farmers in regions like Costa Rica have used Alnus acuminata in agroforestry systems for over 90 years, integrating it with pastureland and coffee cultivation. Open access copy available |
The tree planting and protecting culture of cattle ranchers and small-scale agriculturalists in rural Panama: Opportunities for reforestation and land restorationBackgroundAvailable with subscription or purchase |
Reflexiones sobre los sistemas silvopastorilesBackground:Los sistemas silvopastoriles (SSP) combinan árboles, pasturas, y ganado en un mismo espacio, promoviendo interacciones biológicas que maximizan el uso de la tierra. Representan una estrategia agroforestal para integrar la producción ganadera con la mitigación del cambio climático, al reducir gases de efecto invernadero y rehabilitar áreas degradadas por prácticas extensivas de baja productividad. Open access copy available |
Peasants, agroforesters, and anthropologists: A 20-year venture in income-generating trees and hedgerows in HaitiBackgroundAvailable with subscription or purchase |
Rural Women, Poverty and Natural Resources: Sustenance, Sustainability and Struggle for ChangeBackgroundAvailable with subscription or purchase |
Gender equality, food security and the sustainable development goalsBackgroundOpen access copy available |
