ABSTRACT
The Brazilian Amazon captures much of the mystery of life, not only because of its vastness, complexity of plant and animal species and exotic indigenous peoples, but also because of its impenetrability. It is the last terrestrial frontier that defies modern technology and remains a challenge to the ingenuity of Western society. In the wake of sophisticated and enormous so-called ‘development’ projects for the Amazon lies a lengthy chronology of ecological destruction. It is not just deforestation that has resulted, but irreversible ‘desertification’ and related environmental degradation with which the world must now reckon (Eckholm and Brown 1977; Goodland and Irwin 1975; USDA 1978; USDFA 1980). It has become obvious that there is little option but to re-evaluate the course of ‘progress’ for the Amazon and look for alternative strategies as a basis for future development.
