Palynological Evidence for Land Use Changes in South-East Asia

Polleniferous sediments from SE Asian lakes and swamps may reflect anthropogenic changes in their surroundings. Increases in the abundance of pollen of secondary forest trees, herbs and crop plants are possible indicators of human activity, as are evidence of soil erosion and presence of charcoal. The areas most studied so far are Sumatra and New Guinea. Sites in Sumatra show forest disturbances from 4000 BP or earlier: possibly 7000 BP. From about 2000 BP permanent clearings appear. In New Guinea there is forest clearance in the highlands from c. 5000 BP or earlier, disturbance of swamps back to c. 9000 BP, and evidence of burning from c. 10,000 BP. Man has been practising forest disturbance in SE Asia for thousands of years, and this has led to ecological degradation.