Question

What did Efrain Chacon do in the 1960s and 1970s to diversify his farm and avoid the traditional impoverishment of the land resulting from slash-and-burn deforestation?

Answer 1

Efrain Chacon likely adopted sustainable agricultural methods similar to informed African farmers of the 1970s, rotating grazing animals and allowing fields to rest, while the campaign by Luis Olmedo Sanchez Samudio in Panama also reflects a regional shift towards sustainable practices.

Step-by-step explanation:

Efrain Chacon utilized sustainable agricultural practices to diversify his farm and avoid the traditional impoverishment of the land associated with slash-and-burn deforestation. While satellite photos of Africa in the 1970s showed a stark contrast between fertile land that was rotated and allowed to lie fallow and barren land overgrazed by nomads, Chacon's approach likely mirrored the sustainable methods practiced by informed farmers who rotated grazing animals and periodically rested the fields to maintain soil fertility.

In the context of slash-and-burn agriculture's sustainability, it's important to note that it remained viable in regions with small populations. The productive trilogy of corn, beans, and squash, known as the three sisters, exemplifies an ingenious agricultural solution to optimize land use and nutrition in the Americas. Additionally, to counteract the ecological damage of traditional approaches, efforts like Luis Olmedo Sanchez Samudio's campaign in Panama promoted sustainable agricultural practices, showcasing the importance of shifting towards more ecologically responsible farming.