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Colonization and Environment: Land Settlement Projects in Central America

Table of contents (168 p.)

Jeffrey R. Jones

© The United Nations University, 1990
The views expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations University.

United Nations University Press
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NRTS-32/UNUP-653
ISBN 92-808-0653-x
United Nations Sales No. E.90.III.A.5
03000 P

Contents

Note to the Reader from the UNU

Abbreviations

Foreword

Introduction: Lowland Settlement and Environmental Impacts in Central America

Dangers of Misdirected Policies in Land Settlement
Role of the Current Study
The Colonization Areas
Conclusion

1. The Process of Colonization in Central America

Land Settlement and Land Reform
The Dynamics of Land Settlement and Land Use
Patterns of Land Clearance
Ecological Regions of Central America
People and Land
Conclusion

2. Colonization in Costa Rica

Historical Perspective on Costa Rican Land Colonization
Current Management of Tropical Forest Areas in Costa Rica
Case-Study: Batán Regional Office of the ADI
Conclusions

3. Colonization in Panama

Overview
Institutional Aspects of Colonization in Darién
Current Problems Associated with Colonization in Darién
Recommendations

4. Colonization in Nicaragua

Introduction
Current Development Plans for Eastern Nicaragua
Conclusions

5. Colonization in Honduras

Introduction
Colonization Areas
Conclusion

6. Colonization in Guatemala

Government Institutions Involved in Colonization
Colonization Activities
Conclusion

7. Conclusions

Patterns of Settlement
Conservation
Shortcomings of Directed Settlement in Central America
Land Tenure Problems
Technical Problems of Lowland Tropical Land Settlement
Conservation Concerns in Land Settlement
Social Implications of Land Settlement
The Frontier in Latin American Popular Culture
Indigenous Technical Perspective on Lowland Settlement
Final Thoughts

Bibliography

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