ABSTRACT
This chapter attempts to elucidate what kinds of biodiversity, arising from various swidden and other agroecosystems, would be productive, enhance ecosystem services and promote sustainability. The chapter identifies the functional agrobiodiversity as it exists in some types of swidden agroecosystems that mimic the functional-biodiversity characteristics of natural-forest ecosystems, while at the same time responding to the needs of human society. It also describes certain types of swidden agriculture, along with some of their transformations that have demonstrated this functional biodiversity. Functional agrobiodiversity can be interpreted as that kind of biodiversity that provides more options for both livelihoods in a social system and ecological restoration of the natural resource base to enhance sustainability. Further it will pursue an improved understanding of the contribution that the functional biodiversity of certain types of swidden farming can make to the need for sustainable agricultural intensification. Sustainable development is the call of our times, as a result of a deteriorating environment and unsustainable natural-resource base.
