A form of agriculture, primarily practiced in tropical regions, involves clearing forest vegetation, cultivating crops on the cleared land for a relatively short period, and then abandoning the site as soil fertility declines. The cleared area is allowed to revert to natural vegetation, and the farmers move to a new location to repeat the process. This cycle of cultivation and fallow periods continues, allowing the original plot to regenerate over time. An example is the practice of slash-and-burn agriculture in the Amazon rainforest, where farmers clear small sections of forest, cultivate crops like maize and beans for a few years, and then move on, allowing the forest to regrow.
This agricultural system plays a significant role in food security for many communities in the tropics, providing sustenance in areas where alternative farming methods may be less viable due to soil conditions or environmental factors. Historically, it represented an adaptation to environmental conditions and limited technological resources. The practice also contributes to biodiversity when managed sustainably with long fallow periods, allowing for forest regeneration and supporting a diverse range of plant and animal species.
