Determinants of agricultural intensification and maize productivity in the Maya Biosphere Reserve, Guatemala
Tropical deforestation is one of the world’s most pressing environmental issues. Some theorists, building on agricultural economist Esther Boserup’s work, propose that agricultural intensification through population growth curbs deforestation through limiting extensive forest cutting for agricultura...
Main Authors: | , |
---|---|
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Karolinum Press
2021-06-01
|
Series: | Acta Universitatis Carolinae Geographica |
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | http://www.karolinum.cz/doi/10.14712/23361980.2015.46 |
id |
doaj-3bd8355836c744948a4ae650d276dee1 |
---|---|
record_format |
Article |
spelling |
doaj-3bd8355836c744948a4ae650d276dee12021-06-18T10:15:35ZengKarolinum PressActa Universitatis Carolinae Geographica0300-54022336-19802021-06-01452314010.14712/23361980.2015.461740Determinants of agricultural intensification and maize productivity in the Maya Biosphere Reserve, GuatemalaAmy M. LernerDavid López-CarrTropical deforestation is one of the world’s most pressing environmental issues. Some theorists, building on agricultural economist Esther Boserup’s work, propose that agricultural intensification through population growth curbs deforestation through limiting extensive forest cutting for agricultural purposes. Although various scholars have studied the drivers of tropical deforestation, few have examined the determinants of agricultural intensification, which plays key role in forest conservation. This paper uses household data collected in the Maya Biosphere Reserve, Guatemala, to uncover predictor variables associated with intensification in farmed plots. Maize productivity is statistically and positively related with several key variables including smaller farms, and a small percentage of overall land area in crops; the latter households dedicate more of their output to market sales instead of subsistence. These results challenge the applicability of Boserup’s theory to the tropical agricultural frontier but is consistent with theories of land and labor maximization.http://www.karolinum.cz/doi/10.14712/23361980.2015.46deforestationintensificationland useguatemalapetén |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Amy M. Lerner David López-Carr |
spellingShingle |
Amy M. Lerner David López-Carr Determinants of agricultural intensification and maize productivity in the Maya Biosphere Reserve, Guatemala Acta Universitatis Carolinae Geographica deforestation intensification land use guatemala petén |
author_facet |
Amy M. Lerner David López-Carr |
author_sort |
Amy M. Lerner |
title |
Determinants of agricultural intensification and maize productivity in the Maya Biosphere Reserve, Guatemala |
title_short |
Determinants of agricultural intensification and maize productivity in the Maya Biosphere Reserve, Guatemala |
title_full |
Determinants of agricultural intensification and maize productivity in the Maya Biosphere Reserve, Guatemala |
title_fullStr |
Determinants of agricultural intensification and maize productivity in the Maya Biosphere Reserve, Guatemala |
title_full_unstemmed |
Determinants of agricultural intensification and maize productivity in the Maya Biosphere Reserve, Guatemala |
title_sort |
determinants of agricultural intensification and maize productivity in the maya biosphere reserve, guatemala |
publisher |
Karolinum Press |
series |
Acta Universitatis Carolinae Geographica |
issn |
0300-5402 2336-1980 |
publishDate |
2021-06-01 |
description |
Tropical deforestation is one of the world’s most pressing environmental issues. Some theorists, building on agricultural economist Esther Boserup’s work, propose that agricultural intensification through population growth curbs deforestation through limiting extensive forest cutting for agricultural purposes. Although various scholars have studied the drivers of tropical deforestation, few have examined the determinants of agricultural intensification, which plays key role in forest conservation. This paper uses household data collected in the Maya Biosphere Reserve, Guatemala, to uncover predictor variables associated with intensification in farmed plots. Maize productivity is statistically and positively related with several key variables including smaller farms, and a small percentage of overall land area in crops; the latter households dedicate more of their output to market sales instead of subsistence. These results challenge the applicability of Boserup’s theory to the tropical agricultural frontier but is consistent with theories of land and labor maximization. |
topic |
deforestation intensification land use guatemala petén |
url |
http://www.karolinum.cz/doi/10.14712/23361980.2015.46 |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT amymlerner determinantsofagriculturalintensificationandmaizeproductivityinthemayabiospherereserveguatemala AT davidlopezcarr determinantsofagriculturalintensificationandmaizeproductivityinthemayabiospherereserveguatemala |
_version_ |
1721372994148761600 |