Inca agroforestry: Lessons from the past

Historical accounts of the Inca indicate that they greatly valued trees and practiced planting to fulfil their needs for fuel and timber. These record s are evaluated in the light of palaeoecological and archaeological evidenc e suggesting a dramatic increase in arboreal taxa from c. AD 1100 during a period of significant global temperature increase. This natural vegetation response to improving environmental conditions may have stimulated manageme nt; it is suggested that agroforestry has a long tradition in the Andes. Wi th the arrival of the Spanish, in the 1530s, land management practices chan ged and forest resources became increasingly overexploited. A multidiscipli nary approach may provide important lessons from the past for modern policy makers in Peru. Widespread planting of Eucalyptus may not be an appropriat e solution. Land restoration projects should take account of natural divers ity and utilize a range of native species. This is relevant in view of the current period of rising temperatures, and may help to alleviate both soil erosion and rural poverty.