This paper discusses economic theories relevant to the effects of technological change in agriculture on deforestation. The key terms such as technological change, technological progress and intensification are defined. The decision making process of households about clearing forests and how...

The introductory chapter discusses the assumptions behind policies which have led to deforestation of tropical forests, and outlines the aims and scope, and key conclusions of the book. A summary of each chapter in the rest of the book is also included.

This paper examines the relation between soyabean technology and the loss of natural vegetation in south Brazil, central west Brazil (the Cerrado) and Santa Cruz, Bolivia. The theoretical framework is presented. The interaction between technology and other factors to stimulate soyabean expansion,...

An ex ante evaluation of factors affecting farmers' land use is presented, using surveyed data gathered from low-income maize and vegetable farmers in a southern Philippines watershed at the forest margin to measure how land and labour allocations for various crops respond to changes in expected...

In a summary of the book, six representative situations regarding the link between agricultural technology and deforestation in different agricultural systems are presented. These are the history of developed countries, commodity booms, shifting cultivation, permanent (rain-fed) agriculture,...

The conflict between land use for agriculture vs forest is discussed in relation to land use policy in developing countries.

This book includes a theoretical framework, 8 case studies from Latin America, 4 from sub-Saharan Africa and 4 from South East Asia, in addition to two studies on the historical experience of developed countries in Europe and the USA which discuss whether improvements in agricultural technology...

The chapter systematically examines some of the main analytical arguments and empirical evidence regarding the impact of technological progress in agriculture on deforestation. Three factors have been highlighted that are important in determining deforestation outcomes: (1) the type of...

During the 19th and 20th centuries, many European countries underwent a 'forest transition' when net national forest cover stopped declining and began to increase. Forest transition in Denmark, Switzerland and France is reviewed. The role of agriculture and agricultural technology in forest...

The increase in forest cover in the southern USA during 1935-70 is described in relation to technological change in agriculture and government support programmes, and the relevance of this reforestation to the current situation in developing tropical countries is discussed.