Sunday, July 24, 2016

Sustainable Agriculture in the Tropics





I.                   Introduction:

There is no doubt that humans have a profound impact, both positive and negative, on the various ecosystems of our planet.  We carve through landscapes to promote economic growth and human development, but inevitably end up displacing multiple species and disrupting the natural ecosystems.   In tropical ecosystems deforestation is rampant, making way for new roads, timber harvesting, and farming and livestock to help feed a growing human population (Lindsey, 2007).  The detrimental effects of deforestation are abundant, and are often seen at global levels.  Economic and social conflicts abound, but perhaps the greatest contributor to tropical deforestation is agriculture.  Agricultural practices are essential to human survival, but many poor agricultural techniques are not sustainable and in the end do more harm to the world than good.  There are many organizations and governments working together to incorporate more sustainable and healthy models of agriculture into tropical communities, but it is going to take both local and global changes to have the necessary impact for change.

II.                Sustainable Agricultural Practices:

According to the Rainforest Alliance, seventy percent of deforestation around the world is due to agricultural expansion (Rainforest Alliance, n.d.).  A study done by Gibbs et al. confirmed that, during the 1980’s and 1990’s, “more than 80% of new agricultural land came from intact and disturbed forests” as opposed to already cleared land.  Slash-and-burn farming techniques inevitably release more carbon into the atmosphere, and the newly created agricultural land can become another great source of greenhouse gases.  The rapid loss of tropical forests to farmland disrupts the hydrological cycle and inevitably disrupts rainfall and weather patterns around the world (Gibbs et al, 2010).  One cannot argue, however, that agriculture is necessary to feed the growing populations in tropical communities.  Sustainable agriculture practices and improved farming methods are suggested as positive alternatives to the more harmful agricultural techniques.  Some of these sustainable practices include: reduced use of burning and harmful chemicals, no till agriculture, agroforestry, and improved education for governments and local farmers to help increase crop yield, reduce water usage, and improve management and distribution systems.
Reducing burning and toxic chemical usage will help to reduce carbon emissions and loss of important, already established farmland.  No or zero till agriculture helps to keep the soil healthy and fertile, preventing erosion and allowing for reuse and regeneration.  


(How No Till benefits the soil, courtesy of Lacey, n.d.).

Agroforestry incorporates trees into crop and livestock land to produce agricultural products in a more healthy, natural, and sustainable system (Rainforest Conservation Fund, 2016).  One example of Agroforestry is Alley Cropping, which utilizes alleyways of typical agricultural crops within rows of woody plants such as trees or nitrogen fixing plants like legumes.  This type of agricultural practice provides better crop and soil health, and allows for a more diverse source of income for farmers (USDA National Agroforestry Center, 2012).


(Example of Inga Alley Cropping, courtesy of Rainforest Saver, 2011).

Finally, education, certification, and regulation are key aspects of sustainable agricultural practices, both in the tropics and throughout the world.  Providing farmers and governments with the knowledge on human impact, sustainable systems, and economic development will help to maintain tropical forests while allowing for increased agricultural yield.  Farmers must be provided with the knowledge and technology to produce sustainably, and there are many non-profit organizations out there that aim to help.  The Rainforest Alliance provides coveted certification to farmers that grow crops and livestock sustainably; this type of certification is desirable to many consumers throughout the world.  Farmers that are certified by the Rainforest Alliance must be working towards:

·         Maintaining or increasing tree cover
·         Conserving soil quality and preventing erosion
·         Reducing chemical use
·         Protecting wildlife
·         Ensuring the well-being of workers and their families by facilitating access to education and healthcare (Rainforest Alliance, 2016).


(The Rainforest Alliance Seal, courtesy Rainforest Alliance, 2016).

III.             Conclusion:

            Many governments wish to work with organizations like the Rainforest Alliance to develop and implement guidance systems for farmers that aid developing sustainable farms.  Policies and regulations have already been created in countries like Bali and Chile to encourage better crop choices and water usage (Rainforest Conservation Fund, 2016).  With governments, organizations, and farmers working towards widespread education and implementation of sustainable agricultural practices, tropical communities may be able to move away from more destructive forms of agriculture and work together to preserve both tropical forests and human development.  Again, there is no question that agriculture is essential to human life, but with local and global changes we can work towards healthy and sustainable farming and ranching and preserve the tropics that are just as essential to our lives.

IV.             References

Gibbs, H. K., Ruesch, A. S., Achard, F., Clayton, M. K., Holmgren, P., Ramankutty, N., & Foley, J. A. (2010). Tropical forests were the primary sources of new agricultural land in the 1980s and 1990s. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 107(38), 16732-16737.

Lacey, K. (n.d.) Saving Soils. Semilla Nueva. Image. Retrieved from http://semillanueva.org/saving-soils/

Lindsey, R. (2007). Tropical Deforestation.  Retrieved from http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/Deforestation/

USDA National Agroforestry Center. (2012). Working Trees Info: What is Alley Cropping? Retrieved from http://nac.unl.edu/documents/workingtrees/infosheets/WT_Info_alley_cropping.pdf

Rainforest Alliance. (n.d.) Our Work in Sustainable Agriculture. Retrieved from http://www.rainforest-alliance.org/work/agriculture

Rainforest Alliance. (2016). What Does “Rainforest Alliance Certified™” Mean? Retrieved from http://www.rainforest-alliance.org/about/marks/rainforest-alliance-certified-seal

Rainforest Conservation Fund. (2016). Improvement of Agricultural Methods and Productivity. Retrieved from http://www.rainforestconservation.org/rainforest-primer/6-conservation-of-tropical-rainforests/a-means-of-conserving-tropical-rainforests/6-improvement-of-agricultural-methods-and-productivity/

Rainforest Saver. (2011). Inga Alley Cropping – Sustainable Tropical Farming. Video. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_V3tUaeBhNk