Analysis of Ecological Degradation in the Comoro River Basin,Timor-Leste, Resulting from Shifting Cultivation Practices
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.3007/zthym744Keywords:
Ecological degradation, shifting cultivation, tropical ecosystems, vegetation dynamics, land-use change, , watershed resilience, poverty trap, ecological paradox, agroforestry, Timor-LesteAbstract
This study examines vegetation structure and ecological resilience in the Comoro Watershed, Timor-Leste. Using a mixed-methods approach, ecological assessments revealed a "structural paradox": a dense canopy layer that masks a critical regeneration bottleneck and an invasive-dominated understory. These findings indicate that while large-scale deforestation is absent, the ecosystem suffers from latent structural imbalance due to shortened fallow cycles. Socio-economic analysis identified a "poverty trap" as the primary driver of persistent shifting cultivation. Despite 100% ecological literacy regarding the harms of slash-and-burn practices, farmers remain locked in extractive systems due to capital constraints and limited financial buffers to absorb transition risks. The study concludes that sustainable watershed governance requires more than technical conservation; it demands an integrated socio-ecological strategy. Key pathways include enrichment planting to bypass regeneration bottlenecks, microcredit-supported agroforestry to break the poverty trap, and culturally grounded participatory governance to ensure social legitimacy .Downloads
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