The crisis in shifting cultivation practices and the promise of agroforestry: a review of the Panamanian experience

Deforestation is proceeding at alarming rates in the Central American Repub lic of Panama. This is leading to high losses of biodiversity, local wood s hortages, increased erosion, and the sedimentation of water bodies. One of the principal causes of deforestation is the expansion of the agricultural frontier through extensive shifting cultivation systems. These land use sys tems are becoming increasingly unsustainable as populations increase and th e amount of agricultural land available declines, and are often associated with low crop productivity, and reduced soil fertility. Agroforestry, or th e association of trees with crops and livestock, has the potential of provi ding both socio-economic and ecological advantages to smallholders. While t he number of agroforestry projects has increased dramatically over the past two decades in Panama, there is little information on the impacts these pr ojects have had. This review provides a brief history of agroforestry in Pa nama, and outlines the current projects underway. In addition, the main fac tors impeding the increased adoption of agroforestry are examined, and reco mmendations are provided.