Transitioning shifting cultivation to resilient farming systems in South and Southeast Asia

Shifting cultivation is commonly perceived as a primitive agricultural practice, economically unviable and a cause of tropical deforestation and environmental degradation. Despite growing scientific evidence to the contrary and a revision of this position by several countries and international agencies, policies based on this misconception replace the practice with settled agriculture. This resource book and policy briefs provide an overview of the impacts on food availability, ecosystem services and security of tenure in the shift to settled agricultural systems, outlining approaches that can help avoid the negative fallout of transition and serve as guidelines for policy makers and practitioners.