Impacts of Slash-and-Burn Cultivation on the Soil and Vegetation of the Atlantic Forest in Southeastern Brazil

Conflicts among transnational enterprises, full protection conservation units, and slash-and-burn agriculturalists have historically centered on whether this practice threatens local ecosystems. Our research in the Atlantic Forest (Southeast Brazil) was designed to identify the potential effects of slash-and-burn on soils and vegetation. We collected samples in old cropping areas that have lain fallow for 8, 15, and 60 years. We analyzed the morphological, physical, and chemical properties of the soil samples. We collected vegetation data in 10 × 10 m plots, identified tree species and calculated their basal area. Our morphological and physical data indicate that the soils are not compacted and that the aggregate stability degree increases with time. The chemical data suggest that slash-and-burn practices have not changed the pH or reduced soil fertility, while the vegetation data indicate a long-term recovery. Since our results show sustainable use of slash-and-burn cultivation we recommend land legislation should be designed to safeguard agricultural communities’ livelihoods.