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Joint Research by CSEAS Grant

"A Cultural Ecological Study of 'Swidden on the Verge of Vanishing' in Southeast Asia"
Project Leader: YOKOYAMA, Satoshi
(Faculty of Letters, Kumamoto University)

Theme of Joint Research
"A Cultural Ecological Study of 'Swidden on the Verge of Vanishing' in Southeast Asia"
(Term:2008 - 2009)
Outline of Joint Research
Shifting cultivation which is regarded as a major cause of environmental destruction has been tried to switch to newer forms of farming by the governments and the international organizations in the present Southeast Asia countries. As a consequence, shifting cultivators have changed livelihood strategies from subsistence activities into activities that are capable generating cash incomes such as sedentary farming for commercial crops, plantation farming and economic silviculture. Although we have the notable achievements of fundamental studies of shifting cultivation conducted by the disciplines of agriculture, forestry, soil science, anthropology and geography during 60s and 80s, it is difficult to explain the cause behind this rapid decrease in the area of shifting cultivation under the globalized world. There is a need for us to re-examine the shifting cultivation in the context of the current political, economic, cultural, demographic and ecological conditions. The purpose of this study, therefore, is to discuss the pros and cons of the shifting cultivation in Southeast Asia from the cultural-ecological aspect.