tainable agricultural practices, the committee concluded that essential components of an enabling environment include assurance of resource access through land titling or other tenure-related instruments, access to credit, investment in infrastructure, local community empowerment in the decision-making process, and social stability and security.

More than any other factor, the status of land tenure determines the destiny of land and forest resources in the humid tropics. Land tenure arrangements that provide long-term access to land resources are the prerequisite to efficient land use decision making and to the implementation of sustainable land use systems. Formalization of property rights is important in many countries.

National governments in the humid tropics and international aid agencies should develop and provide incentives to encourage long-term investment in increasing the production potential of degraded lands, for settling and restoring abandoned lands, and for creating market opportunities for the variety of products available through sustainable land use.

To attain the most efficient use of limited funds, it will be necessary to determine where natural regeneration of degraded lands is proceeding without major investment, and alternatively, where regeneration and economic development will require a financial boost. As regeneration and economic development proceeds, the mix of land use inputs is likely to change and so too will the mix of appropriate incentives. For example, labor-intensive agroforestry systems that might be suitable in low-wage countries may be less financially viable in high-wage countries.

In the case of abandoned lands, securing tenure is a critical step in rehabilitation, but special concessions may be necessary to attract farmers to these areas. Depending on local tenure arrangements, villages and communities, rather than individuals, might more appropriately be the recipient of subsidies, tax concessions, and other incentives where, for example, the stabilization of entire watersheds is critical.

New partnerships must be formed among farmers, the private sector, nongovernmental organizations, and public institutions to address the broad needs for research and development and the needs for knowledge transfer of the more complex, integrated land use systems.

Front Matter (R1-R16)

Executive Summary (1-18)

Part One (19-20)

1 Agriculture and the Environment in the Humid Tropics (21-65)

2 Sustainable Land Use Options (66-137)

3 Technological Imperatives for Change (138-158)

4 Policy-Related Imperatives for Change (159-191)

References (192-214)

Appendix: Emissions of Greenhouse Gases from Tropical Deforestation and Subsequent Uses of the Land (215-260)

Part Two: Country Profiles (261-264)

Brazil (265-351)

C te d (352-392)

Indonesia (393-439)

Malaysia (440-482)

Mexico (483-548)

The Philippines (549-624)

Zaire (625-658)

Glossary (659-674)

Authors (675-678)

Index (679-704)