Technologies to sustain tropical forest resources, OTA-F-214

Book · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1984

OSTI ID:6059901

The destruction of tropical forests represents one of those subtle depletions of the earth's resources that humankind usually tends to recognize and bewail only after it is too late. Each year, 11.3 million hectares of tropical forests (an area roughly the size of Pennsylvania) are cleared and converted to other land uses or to unproductive land. Once farmed and then abandoned, the land has lost much of its inherent productivity. This report examines what technologies could be developed or adapted in order to reduce the need to waste tropical land and yet respond to the growing demand for forest products and services within the tropical nations. Changing technologies alone, however, the report points out, will not be enough to sustain the tropical forests because the underlying causes of the deforestation are institutional, social, and economic.

• OSTI ID: 6059901
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290300 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Environment
Health
& Safety
290400* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Energy Resources
FORESTS
RESOURCE CONSERVATION
RESOURCE DEPLETION
TECHNOLOGY UTILIZATION
TROPICAL REGIONS