Forestry in Sierra Leone

Small tropical colonies often go through the cycles of heavy forest exploitation, "shifting cultivation," severe soil erosion, creation of open forests and grasslands, and even desert and wastelands, followed by heroic measures of forest restoration and soil conservation within a time span of a few decades. Similar cycles in larger lands of temperate climes may require a century or more. The writer describes such a land exploitation cycle on Sierra Leone. It carries an important message of interest not only to those concerned with tropical forest policies, but also to those who must work with an unschooled population to carry out impressive conservation programs.