182 Forests
Farming in the forest
Farmers in many places clear spaces in the forest to plant crops, leaving the
surrounding forest untouched. They farm there until weeds begin to compete
with their crops. Then they clear a new plot and the forest grows back in the
old plot and restores the soil. This is sometimes called “slash and burn,” or
swidden farming.
Swidden farming has been done for thousands of years. But as populations
grow and settle new areas, the amount of forest available to farm this way is
reduced. Neither is there enough land to let farm plots be reclaimed by forest.
Swidden farming has become unsustainable, both for the farmer and for the
forest. Communities that farm in forest areas can get better results and remain
on their land longer if they use sustainable farming methods (see Chapter 15).
Protecting forests and livelihood
In the forests of Andra Pradesh, India, villagers clear patches of forest to grow
crops. But in the months when there is little food from their farm plots, many
people’s livelihoods depend on things that grow in the forest. Some villagers
gather and sell wood for fuel, while others use wood to make tools to sell. The
way the villagers are allowed to use forest resources is controlled by groups
called “community forest committees.”
When the forest committees saw that some areas were being damaged
from overuse, they made new rules to reduce the amount of wood that could
be taken. The rules were very strict, and many people’s livelihoods were
threatened. People who survived by selling wood for fuel and making tools
no longer had this income. During the months when food was scarce, these
families suffered.
The members of the forest committees came from these same communities,
so they wanted to find a solution that made sure no community member went
hungry, but still protected the forest. After many meetings, a decision
was reached. Instead of changing the new forest rules, the
forest committees would help to improve farmland by
building contour barriers to slow the movement
of water and prevent erosion. This would
make the soil richer and provide more
water for crops so farms would be
more productive and there would
be more food for everyone without
endangering the forest.
A Community Guide to Environmental Health 2012