Lao PDR - Rural life - Slash and burn cultivation

A Khmu ethnic minority man lights a fire to burn the dry vegetation on his field, Ban Non Boun Kang, Phongsaly province, Lao PDR. Swidden cultivation or ‘hai’ in Lao consists of cutting the natural vegetation, leaving it to dry and then burning it for temporary cropping of the land, the ash acting as a natural fertiliser. Shifting cultivation practices, although remarkably sustainable and adapted to their environment in the past, have come under increasing stress in recent decades and are now starting to be a major problem in Lao PDR, causing widespread deforestation and watershed degradation.

Add to Cart Add to Lightbox Download

Filename: A0016985cc_1.jpg
Copyright: Tessa Bunney
Image Size: 4000x3000 / 1.4MB; Southeast Asia Southeast Asia Laos Lao PDR Lao PDR Tessa Bunney rural life Phongsaly Phongsali remote countryside environment land landscape mountainous hilly hill hills trees tree forest jungle slash and burn slash burn rice swidden hai crop crops field farm farming subsistence work working food production agriculture steep hillside agriculture cultivation degradation deforestation isolated Khmu Khamu Kmhmu ethnic minority ethnic minority minorities hill tribe farmer Mon-Khmer fire burning upland smoke smoky
Contained in galleries: Tessa Bunney - All pics, Lao PDR - Rural Life

A Khmu ethnic minority man lights a fire to burn the dry vegetation on his field, Ban Non Boun Kang, Phongsaly province, Lao PDR. Swidden cultivation or ‘hai’ in Lao consists of cutting the natural vegetation, leaving it to dry and then burning it for temporary cropping of the land, the ash acting as a natural fertiliser. Shifting cultivation practices, although remarkably sustainable and adapted to their environment in the past, have come under increasing stress in recent decades and are now starting to be a major problem in Lao PDR, causing widespread deforestation and watershed degradation.