Matis Tribe’s Slash‑and‑Burn Farming in the Amazon

Process Overview

1. Site Selection – Choose forest patch based on soil, water, useful plants.
2. Cutting – Fell trees with machetes/axes; leave some for shade/climbers.
3. Dry & Burn – Let debris dry, then burn in dry season to release nutrients.
4. Planting – Use dibble sticks to sow seeds in ash‑enriched soil.
5. Intercropping – Mix crops for fertility, space efficiency, pest resilience.
6. Crop Rotation – Alternate species yearly to prevent depletion.
7. Harvest – Hand‑pick/cut at maturity.
8. Reforestation – Abandon plot after few years; forest regenerates.

Sustainability Note

When practiced traditionally, this cycle maintains ecological balance. Overuse or uncontrolled burning leads to degradation and deforestation.