Towards Productive Landscapes

In many parts of the tropics, landscapes are subject to unprecedented changes.
Populations are growing, roads, dams and cities are being built, the climate is changing,
and the demand for resources is increasing. A diversity of local, regional and global stakeholders
claim a share of land and resources. Landscapes must fulfil an increasing number
of functions to satisfy a broader range of stakeholders holding divergent interests. In
many cases, this leads to conflict and unsustainable land use. Large areas of land lie idle,
or fulfil only a fraction of their potential functions, while outsiders grab productive lands
to convert them into monofunctional landscapes.