A traditional agro-system in the Amazon region of Colombia

A study has been made in Rain forest shifting cultivation, as practiced by Andoke and Witoto Indians in the Caqueta basin of the Colombian Amazonia. Ecological aspects of cultivation have been investigated at both the individual field level and in terms of field/forest relationships. In general, the indigenous cultivation system functions in a stable manner. At the individual field level, this is achieved through a relatively specialized response to adverse environmental conditions. A particular feature of the system is its agri-silvicultural status. Field/forest relationships are equally critical to the stability of the system. Lengthy forest fallowing is practiced between cultivations, reflecting the dispersed nature of indigenous settlements. This contrasts with the more damaging impact of equally small-scale, but more concentrated, colonist agriculture in adjacent areas. The development implications of indigenous farming methods are considered.

Vth International Symposium of Tropical Ecology