Abstract |
The book provides strategies for sustainable land use that can halt needless deforestation, further degradation of land, and the irreversible loss of biological resources. A 15-member committee of international experts presents a practical discussion of 12 major land use options that regional and national leaders can use in making decisions to boost food production and local income while protecting the natural resource base. Recommendations are offered for developing the technologies needed for sustainable agriculture and recovery of degraded lands, and a strategy is presented for changing current policies and incentives that often encourage environmentally destructive land use practices. An appendix addresses emissions of greenhouse gases from tropical deforestation and land use. The report also profiles seven humid tropical countries and points to examples of successful land restoration. |