The farming system and traditional agroforestry systems in the Maya community of San Jose, Belize

Shifting slash-and-burn agriculture is likely one of the main causes of for est degradation in southern Belize. Although many development projects have attempted to reduce the impacts of agriculture on the tropical rainforest, the situation is still a cause for concern. A study of the farming system of the San Jose Maya community was therefore carried out to examine agricul tural production in its social, cultural, economic, and political context. Results demonstrate that agricultural production contributes to forest degr adation because of the limited availability of agricultural land, the low l evel of investment in agricultural production, the land tenure system, limi ted marketing opportunities, and the exclusion of Mayas from the country's political and economic domains. Agroforestry could, however, offer a partia l solution to the problem of forest degradation. Three types of traditional agroforestry systems are practised in San Jose: the milpa (a slash-and-bur n agriculture system), cacao (Theobroma cacao) cultivation under shade tree s, and the homegarden. These traditional agroforestry systems almost entire ly meet a family's needs for food and wood, and generate at least 62% of fa mily income. Improving the productivity of these systems could help to redu ce pressure on the forest in southern Belize.