Ecological aspects of development in the humid tropics = Aspects ecologiques du developpement sous les tropiques humides = Aspectos ecologicos del desarrollo en las zonas tropicales humedas

Unfortunately, tropical lowland forests and wetlands are incapable of supporting this growth and current exploitation practices can precipitate self-defeating, long-term damage. This report briefly examines tropical ecosystems, offering discussions of natural resources, germplasm and conservation of genetic resources, agriculture, ecological and management considerations for forested lands, soil management, and surface water resources. The authors then explore three divergent tropical exploitation strategies. One strategy recommends that substantial parts of these ecosystems remain untouched to serve as parks and reserves, repositories for scientific study, sources of natural resource germplasm, food sources for aboriginal people, and as a means to help maintain air and water quality and control erosion. The second strategy is characterized by the substantial use of timber resources through sound forest management including selected cutting, limited clear cutting, underplanting, shelterwood forestry, and reforestation. The third strategy involves even more environmental stress as it calls for conversion of selected forested and extensive deforested areas for use in food production and for the application of contemporary agricultural practices and large quantities of fertilizer. The authors"s general recommendations suggest that development agencies support resource exploitation but that ecological assessment, study, and planning be given equal support and emphasis. More specifically, development agencies should support workshops, seminars, and other colloquiums to encourage: new farming methods based on diverse crops and germplasm; a worldwide network for studying and distributing fruit crops; agricultural development focused on secondary forests; water and water quality preservation in the wetlands; forest regeneration projects; modern soil management; and the design of criteria for agroforests based on traditional agroforestry and food production methods.