ABSTRACT
This chapter sheds light on how swidden fallows may contribute to flood mitigation, came not from a direct study, but rather as a by-product of another study conducted by Suson in 2012. The 2012 study began with a baseline of Landsat images taken in 2008 and set out to evaluate the impact on flooding of land uses projected to evolve 10 years into the future, in 2018. The ability of fallow vegetation to abstract rainfall and thereby reduce surface runoff is directly related to its soil and water conservation qualities. On the other hand, the aggressive pioneer shrub Chromolaena odorata provides protective soil cover in the early stages of fallow re-growth because it expands so rapidly. It is also relevant to determine the existence and degree of relationship between fallow vegetation and local communities, and policies and markets should be explored to encourage the maintenance and/or enrichment of coconut-based permanent fallows.
