Fragile Lands of Latin America Strategies for ... - PART - USAID

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The Geography of Fragile Lands 23 sources of water, wildlife, and organic muck for constructing raised fields and hence prime settlement locations. The areas of prehistoric raised fields around Lake Titicaca were mapped as only usable for fishing and totora reeds by a recent land-use survey, reflecting current scientific perceptions of what is usable or fragile, and what is not. Carrying Capacity. A difficult concept to apply, refers to the number of people that can be supported by a given environment, with a given land use system, and a given standard of living, without environmental deterioration. Fragile lands presumably have lower carrying capacities because they are readily susceptible to deterioration. This is not nec- essarily the case, however. Some fragile lands have some of the highest food productivities in the world, for example the c hinampas in wetlands in Mexico, rice paddies on tropical soils in Southeast Asia, and irrigation systems in the deserts of Peru. However, input costs needed to farm fragile lands are often very high. Such farming may be feasible if the fragile aspects of the environment are complemented by very positive aspects, such as low rainfall (requiring costly irrigation) being complemented by flat terrain, warm temperatures, and good soil. On the other hand, fragile lands include the most degraded lands in Latin America and the worst poverty, particularly areas of steep slopes (Pos- ner and McPherson, 1982). (For a recent discussion and application of carrying capacity to Amazonia, see Fearnside, 1986.) Risk Avoidance. Fragile lands tend to be characterized by a high degree of environmental risk. Subsistence strategies are favored which minimize risk, especially by diversification of crops and habitats, usu- ally at the expense of productivity. Commercial systems, in contrast, tend to maximize productivity at the cost of greater risk, which is then compensated for through economic institutions. More frequent failure of commercial systems on fragile lands, however, may make input costs prohibitive. Fragility of the Production System. This volume focuses on the fragility of environments. We should keep in mind, however, that the agroecosystem is also fragile to greater or lesser degrees depending on technology and knowledge availability. And these, in turn, may reflect social fragility in terms of organization, markets, prices, income, social relationships, politics, etc. These other types of fragility can be more critical than environmental fragility, which may be more manageable or more readily adapted to. Conclusion These brief comments provide some perspective on the nature of fragile lands. We might ask whether the concept of fragile lands is
24 William M. Denevan usefbl, especially in Latin America where most land is seriously fragile. On the other hand, I believe that a focus on fragility does help concentrate attention on agroecological components of land-use systems-the interaction between crop, technology, and environment- whereas development planning in the past has been dominated by socioeconomic thinking. Both approaches are, of course, essential. We do need some serious new thinking about managed agricultural change because agricultural development, for the most part, has been a dismal failure for the small farmers of the Third World, who to a large extent have been pushed onto the most fragile lands. References Bremer, J., A. Babb, J. Dickinson, P. Gore, E. Hyman, and M. Andre. 1984. Fragile lands: a theme paper on problems, issues, and approaches for development of humid tropical lowlands and steep slopes in the Latin American region. Development Alternatives, Inc., Washington, D.C. Cole, J.P. 1965. Latin America: an economic and social geography. Butterworths, Washington, D.C. Denevan, W.M. 1980a. Latin America. Pages 217-244 in G.A. Klee (ed.), World systems of traditional resource management. Edward ~moid, London. Denevan, W.M. 1980b. Tipologia de configuraciones agricolas prehispanica. AmCrica Ind'lgena 40:6 19-652. Farnworth, E.G., and F.B. Golley (eds.). 1974. Fragile ecosystems: evaluation of research and applications in neotropics. Springer-Verlag, New York. Fearnside, P.M. 1986. Human carrying capacity of the Brazilian rainforest. Columbia University Press, New York. Posner, J.L., and M.F. McPherson. 1982. Agriculture on the steep slopes of tropical America: current situation and prospects for the year 2000. World Development 10: 341 -353. Redclift, M. 1987. Sustainable development: exploring the contradictions. Methuen, London. Siemens, A.H. 1977. Some patterns seen from the air. Journal of Belizean Affairs 55-21. Sarmiento, G., and M. Monasterio. 1975. A critical consideration of the environmental conditions associated with the occurrence of savanna ecosystems in tropical America. Pages 223-250 in F.B. Golley and E. Medina (eds.), Tropical ecological systems. Springer-Verlag, New York.
Page 2 and 3: Fragile Lands of Latin America PN-
Page 4 and 5: Fragile Lands of Latin America Stra
Page 6 and 7: Contents Foreword, Thomas E. Lovejo
Page 8 and 9: Contents PART FIVE RESEARCH IN PROG
Page 10 and 11: x Thomas E. Lovejoy as the genesis
Page 12 and 13: Acknowledgments This book is a coll
Page 14 and 15: xvi About the Editor and Contributo
Page 16 and 17: pJ '-,, Mexico ' '-7 Research Sites
Page 18 and 19: 2 John 0. Browder opment, and all t
Page 20 and 21: 4 John 0. Browder Gow fbrther devel
Page 22 and 23: John 0. Browder Common Themes Three
Page 24 and 25: 8 John 0. Browder Hecht, Susanna, B
Page 26 and 27: The Geography of Fragde Lands in La
Page 28 and 29: Table 1 Categories of Fragile Lands
Page 30 and 31: Plate 4 Coastal desert, northern Pe
Page 32 and 33: Figure 1 Map of mountains 1,000-plu
Page 34 and 35: Figure 3 Map of tropical forests (m
Page 36 and 37: The Geography of Fragile Lands Tabl
Page 40 and 41: Development of Fragile Lands: An In
Page 42 and 43: Development of Fragile Lands 27 pro
Page 44 and 45: Development of Fragile Lands 29 a b
Page 46 and 47: Development of Fragile Lands 3 1 Th
Page 48 and 49: Development of Fragile Lands 33 Ind
Page 50 and 51: Development of Fragile Lands 35 fra
Page 52 and 53: Development of Fragile Lands 37 was
Page 54 and 55: Development of Fragile Lands 39 Tra
Page 56 and 57: Development of Fragile Lands 41 wer
Page 58 and 59: Development of Fragile Lands 43 Pie
Page 60 and 61: nansferring Traditional Technology
Page 62 and 63: Transferring Traditional Technology
Page 66 and 67: Transferring naditional Technology
Page 70 and 71: Transfirring Traditional Technology
Page 74 and 75: Economic Prospects from Tropical Ra
Page 88 and 89:
Agricultural Systems on the Floodpl
Page 90 and 91:
Agricultural Systems on the Peruvia
Page 92 and 93:
Page 94 and 95:
Page 96 and 97:
Table 1 Number of Riberefio Plots b
Page 98 and 99:
Page 100 and 101:
Page 102 and 103:
Page 104 and 105:
Page 106 and 107:
Page 108 and 109:
Page 110 and 111:
Page 112 and 113:
Page 114 and 115:
Appendix B Soil Test Data, Selected
Page 116 and 117:
Production and Profit in Agroforest
Page 118 and 119:
Prodtccfion and Profit in Agrofwest
Page 120 and 121:
Production and Profit in Agrofirest
Page 122 and 123:
Production and ProJit in Agroforest
Page 124 and 125:
Product ion and Profit in Agrofores
Page 126 and 127:
Appendix A Santa Rosa Agroforeshy F
Page 128 and 129:
Costs and Benejts of Floodplain For
Page 130 and 131:
Page 132 and 133:
Costs and Benefits of Floodplain Fo
Page 134 and 135:
Page 136 and 137:
Page 138 and 139:
Page 140 and 141:
Appendix A Species with DBH 2 5 crn
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Appendix B B. 1 Acai Fruit Output (
Page 144 and 145:
Sustained Yield Management of Natur
Page 146 and 147:
Page 148 and 149:
Page 150 and 151:
Page 152 and 153:
Cuyabeno Wildlife Production Reserv
Page 154 and 155:
Cuyabeno WildlifP Production Reserv
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Page 158 and 159:
Page 160 and 161:
Page 162 and 163:
Page 164 and 165:
Extractive Reserves Extractive Rese
Page 166 and 167:
Extractive Reserves 153 extraction
Page 168 and 169:
Extractive Reserves Income Generati
Page 170 and 171:
Extractive Reserves 157 Table 1 Are
Page 172 and 173:
Extractive Reserves Table 2 Rubber
Page 174 and 175:
Extractive Reserves 161 embodies th
Page 176 and 177:
Extractive Reserves 163 Perspective
Page 178 and 179:
Appendix A (Continued) Tree and Fru
Page 180 and 181:
Indigenous Soil Management in Amazo
Page 182 and 183:
Page 184 and 185:
Page 186 and 187:
Page 188 and 189:
Page 190 and 191:
Page 192 and 193:
Page 194 and 195:
Page 196 and 197:
An Economic Analysis oj- Huastec Fo
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An Economic Analysis 01' Huastec Fo
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Plate 1 A Huastec: farmer, walking
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An Economic Analysis of Huastec For
Page 204 and 205:
Table 1 Main Characteristics of Hua
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Page 212 and 213:
Page 214 and 215:
Page 216 and 217:
Page 218 and 219:
Appendix B Value of Huastec Product
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PART THREE Strategies for Sustainab
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21 0 John M. Treacy would also curb
Page 224 and 225:
John M. Treacy Land and Agriculture
Page 226 and 227:
214 John M. Treacy water. In order
Page 228 and 229:
John M. Treacy Terraces are invaria
Page 230 and 231:
218 John M. Treacy Table 1 Crops Pl
Page 232 and 233:
220 John M. Treacy ancient walls, a
Page 234 and 235:
222 John M. Treacy Table 2 Per Hect
Page 236 and 237:
224 John M. Treacy der population p
Page 238 and 239:
226 John M. Treacy Agricultural ter
Page 240 and 241:
228 John M. Treacy Morlon, P. B. Or
Page 242 and 243:
Raised Fields and Sustainable Agric
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232 Clark L. Erickson and Kay L. Ca
Page 246 and 247:
Page 248 and 249:
Page 250 and 251:
Plate 3 Young potato plants on rais
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Page 254 and 255:
242 Clark L. Ericlcron and Kay L. C
Page 256 and 257:
Page 258 and 259:
246 Clark L. Erichon and Kay L. Can
Page 260 and 261:
Clark L. Erickson and Kay L. Candle
Page 262 and 263:
Arroyos and the Development of Agri
Page 264 and 265:
Arroyos in Northern Mexico 253 Plat
Page 266 and 267:
Arroyos in Northern Mexico 255 Plat
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Arroyos in Northern Mexico 25 7 uns
Page 270 and 271:
Arroyos in Northern Mexico 259 lowe
Page 272 and 273:
A rrqvos in Northern Mexico 261 rap
Page 274 and 275:
Arroyos in Northern Mexico 263 The
Page 276 and 277:
Arroyos in Northern Mexico 265 fami
Page 278 and 279:
Arroyos in Northern Mexico 26 7 Doz
Page 280 and 281:
Arroyos in Northern Mexico 269 Turr
Page 282 and 283:
Developing the Choc6 Region of Colo
Page 284 and 285:
Developing the Choc6 Region 275 and
Page 286 and 287:
Developing the Chocb Region 277 sho
Page 288 and 289:
Developing the Chocb Region 279 the
Page 290 and 291:
Socioeconomic Analysis of Agrofores
Page 292 and 293:
Table 3 Preliminary Financial Asses
Page 294 and 295:
Socioeconomic Analysis of Agrofores
Page 296 and 297:
Abaetetuba (Brazil), 119, 120(fig.)
Page 298 and 299:
Index Biomass, 27, 92, 135 Birds, 1
Page 300 and 301:
Costa Rica, 277 ?in forest, 61, 134
Page 302 and 303:
Index Green manure, 234, 241 Green
Page 304 and 305:
Index Massaranduba latex, 66(table)
Page 306 and 307:
Index Podocnemis spp. See River tur
Page 308 and 309:
Index Seeds, 80, 82, 85, 94, 134, 1
Page 310:
Index Ubu~u, 117 Ucayali River, 79,
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