photo: Paul Kivlin

photo: Sylvia Marin, WWF-Central America

Banana production on the North Coast of Honduras. Inputs to agricultural production, including pesticides and fertilizers, can harm the Mesoamerican Reef.

photo: Jason Clay

In the l980s and l990s deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon often resulted in the creation of very poor pasture which was rarely viable for more than 7-10 years before it was abandoned. Even so, according to the World Bank more than $50,000 was invested per job created on ranches in the Brazilian Amazon.

photo: Wim P. Groeneveld

Small farmers like this one in the Brazilian Amazon often clear 2-5 hectares of land per year, plant it to a mix of subsistence and cash crops (in this case pineapple) for 2 years, then plant the land to grass for pasture. In some cases the farmers own the land and use its sale to buy twice as much land further in the frontier. They continue this 4-5 times until they have enough money to stay in one place. In many instances, however, sharecroppers are allowed to use the land for 2 years and then are required to leave it planted to pasture before moving further into the forest to clear more land.

photo: Phil Riddell

This road in KwaZulu Natal South Africa was established where a natural water course runs . This is a bad practice as it leads to runoff of silt into the water channels below and reduces water running on to the fields.

photo: Rachel Wiseman

Sugarcane burning in KwaZulu Natal South Africa.

photo: Rachel Wiseman, KwaZulu Natal South Africa

"Trash" mulching of sugar cane debris returns nutrients to the soil, improving soil quality. This is an alternative practice to burning between production cycles, which is standard practice in many cane producing regions. Burning releases nutrients, including carbon, into the air and negatively impacts air quality.

photo: Rachel Wiseman

The development of terraces in South Africa helps reduce water loss and silt runoff.

photo: Phil Riddell, Zambia

This centre pivot irrigation system is much more water efficient than the alternative used Zambia, which is flood irrigation.

photo: Phil Riddell

A contoured agricultural landscape with a buffer being re-established around a waterway in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa. Contouring fields is a better management practice which helps control erosion and improve water absorption.

photo: Rachel Wiseman

Slippage of this field in South Africa into the natural waterway occurred because the fields were not terraced and there was not a buffer zone around the natural water course.

photo: Jason Clay

Urban developments are replacing agricultural land. Pineapple fields in Hawaii are being lost to urban development. Note the access routes in the field.

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