A landscape mosaics approach for characterizing swidden systems from a REDD+ perspective

Swidden agriculture is often deemed responsible for deforestation and forest degradation in tropical regions, yet swidden landscapes are commonly not visible on land cover/use maps, making it difficult to prove this assertion. For a future REDD+ scheme, the correct identification of deforestation and forest degradation and linking these processes to land use is crucial. However, it is a key challenge to distinguish degradation and deforestation from temporal vegetation dynamics inherent to swiddening. In this article we present an approach for spatial delineation of swidden systems based on landscape mosaics. Furthermore we introduce a classification for change processes based on the change matrix of these landscape mosaics. Our approach is illustrated by a case study in Viengkham district in northern Laos. Over a 30-year time period the swidden landscapes have increased in extent and they have degraded, shifting from long crop–fallow cycles to short cycles. From 2007 to 2009 degradation within the swidden system accounted for half of all the landscape mosaics change processes. Pioneering shifting cultivation did not prevail. The landscape mosaics approach could be used in a swidden compatible monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) system of a future REDD+ framework.

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Main Authors: Hett, C., Castella, J.C., Heinimann, A., Messerli, P., Pfund, J.L.
Format: Journal Article biblioteca
Language:English
Published: 2011
Subjects:landscape mosaics, deforestation, redd-plus, agriculture,
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/21016
https://www.cifor.org/knowledge/publication/3692
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spelling dig-cgspace-10568-210162023-02-15T01:13:44Z A landscape mosaics approach for characterizing swidden systems from a REDD+ perspective Hett, C. Castella, J.C. Heinimann, A. Messerli, P. Pfund, J.L. landscape mosaics deforestation redd-plus agriculture Swidden agriculture is often deemed responsible for deforestation and forest degradation in tropical regions, yet swidden landscapes are commonly not visible on land cover/use maps, making it difficult to prove this assertion. For a future REDD+ scheme, the correct identification of deforestation and forest degradation and linking these processes to land use is crucial. However, it is a key challenge to distinguish degradation and deforestation from temporal vegetation dynamics inherent to swiddening. In this article we present an approach for spatial delineation of swidden systems based on landscape mosaics. Furthermore we introduce a classification for change processes based on the change matrix of these landscape mosaics. Our approach is illustrated by a case study in Viengkham district in northern Laos. Over a 30-year time period the swidden landscapes have increased in extent and they have degraded, shifting from long crop–fallow cycles to short cycles. From 2007 to 2009 degradation within the swidden system accounted for half of all the landscape mosaics change processes. Pioneering shifting cultivation did not prevail. The landscape mosaics approach could be used in a swidden compatible monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) system of a future REDD+ framework. 2011 2012-06-04T09:15:25Z 2012-06-04T09:15:25Z Journal Article Hett, C., Castella, J.C., Heinimann, A., Messerli, P., Pfund, J.L. 2011. A landscape mosaics approach for characterizing swidden systems from a REDD+ perspective . Applied Geography 32 (2) :608-618. ISSN: 0143-6228. 0143-6228 https://hdl.handle.net/10568/21016 https://www.cifor.org/knowledge/publication/3692 en Applied Geography
institution CGIAR
collection DSpace
country Francia
countrycode FR
component Bibliográfico
access En linea
databasecode dig-cgspace
tag biblioteca
region Europa del Oeste
libraryname Biblioteca del CGIAR
language English
topic landscape mosaics
deforestation
redd-plus
agriculture
landscape mosaics
deforestation
redd-plus
agriculture
spellingShingle landscape mosaics
deforestation
redd-plus
agriculture
landscape mosaics
deforestation
redd-plus
agriculture
Hett, C.
Castella, J.C.
Heinimann, A.
Messerli, P.
Pfund, J.L.
A landscape mosaics approach for characterizing swidden systems from a REDD+ perspective
description Swidden agriculture is often deemed responsible for deforestation and forest degradation in tropical regions, yet swidden landscapes are commonly not visible on land cover/use maps, making it difficult to prove this assertion. For a future REDD+ scheme, the correct identification of deforestation and forest degradation and linking these processes to land use is crucial. However, it is a key challenge to distinguish degradation and deforestation from temporal vegetation dynamics inherent to swiddening. In this article we present an approach for spatial delineation of swidden systems based on landscape mosaics. Furthermore we introduce a classification for change processes based on the change matrix of these landscape mosaics. Our approach is illustrated by a case study in Viengkham district in northern Laos. Over a 30-year time period the swidden landscapes have increased in extent and they have degraded, shifting from long crop–fallow cycles to short cycles. From 2007 to 2009 degradation within the swidden system accounted for half of all the landscape mosaics change processes. Pioneering shifting cultivation did not prevail. The landscape mosaics approach could be used in a swidden compatible monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) system of a future REDD+ framework.
format Journal Article
topic_facet landscape mosaics
deforestation
redd-plus
agriculture
author Hett, C.
Castella, J.C.
Heinimann, A.
Messerli, P.
Pfund, J.L.
author_facet Hett, C.
Castella, J.C.
Heinimann, A.
Messerli, P.
Pfund, J.L.
author_sort Hett, C.
title A landscape mosaics approach for characterizing swidden systems from a REDD+ perspective
title_short A landscape mosaics approach for characterizing swidden systems from a REDD+ perspective
title_full A landscape mosaics approach for characterizing swidden systems from a REDD+ perspective
title_fullStr A landscape mosaics approach for characterizing swidden systems from a REDD+ perspective
title_full_unstemmed A landscape mosaics approach for characterizing swidden systems from a REDD+ perspective
title_sort landscape mosaics approach for characterizing swidden systems from a redd+ perspective
publishDate 2011
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/21016
https://www.cifor.org/knowledge/publication/3692
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