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The Amazon between economy and ecology
Author(s) -
Hoppe Andreas
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
natural resources forum
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.646
H-Index - 49
eISSN - 1477-8947
pISSN - 0165-0203
DOI - 10.1111/j.1477-8947.1992.tb00574.x
Subject(s) - amazon rainforest , rainforest , productivity , hectare , ecology , agroforestry , geography , agriculture , environmental science , biology , economics , economic growth
The soils of the Amazon's rainforests, unlike soils in rainforests in other parts of the world, have very low productivity. Experiments have shown that the Amazon's timber productivity of 2–3 m 3 per year per hectare is considerably below that achievable in Northern Europe. Sustainable agricultural development therefore can be expected to be very low. However, the mineral resources of the Amazon are very extensive and offer a way to develop the Amazon without destroying the ecology, provided that some limits are set on non‐mining activities.