Shifting cultivation to sustainability – seeing beyond the smoke

Shifting cultivation (SC) is a system of agriculture widespread in the tropical and subtropical regions of the world. In India, it is rampant in the East and North East states. SC has been overwhelmingly portrayed as a threat to ecosystems and climate, ignoring the ecological value of the fallow phase and secondary forests. Finding ways to manage the practice of SC without affecting agricultural productivity is essential for climate change mitigation, biodiversity conservation and the welfare of indigenous communities. This study analyses recent research on the impacts of SC with regard to ecosystem effects at different stages of the process.