A systems thinking approach for achieving a better understanding of swidden cultivation in Vietnam

Abstract

In 2009 and 2013 Human Ecology devoted two Special Issues to swidden cultivation (also known as slash-and-burn or shifting cultivation) around the world, with a special focus on Southeast Asia. The issue in 2009 focused on the lack of information on swidden cultivation practices (Mertz et al. 2009), whereas the 2013 issue addressed swidden areas, swidden populations, and factors influencing swidden practices (van Vliet et al. 2013). The research presented in these issues highlighted the substantial changes to swidden systems across scales (ibid.), as well as the political and economic factors, such as intensive agricultural practices, large-scale plantations, the establishment or expansion of protected areas, that are the key drivers for changes in swidden-based agricultural practices (Cramb et al. 2009; Ziegler et al. 2009; van Vliet et al. 2013). Show more