Agroforestry, a solution for the peasantry of the RAAS

Abstract

Slash and burn, a traditional method of land preparation for cultivation, is one of the main factors of deforestation in the South Atlantic Autonomous Region (RAAS). The method in question, which is practiced in other areas of our country, consists of clearing and subsequent total incineration of the area selected by farmers for planting. Aware of the harmfulness of this practice, CIDCA has promoted an investigation in the surroundings of Bluefields, in the RAAS, the preliminary results of which are presented in the first article. As an alternative, the authors propose the development of agroforestry, which contributes not only to forest preservation but also to greater agricultural production and productivity.