The role of traditional land use systems in the well-being of rural Timor-Leste

• Author(s): Henriques, Pedro Damião de Sousa ; Narciso, Vanda ; Branco, Manuel
• Date: 2012
• Persistent ID: http://hdl.handle.net/10174/7076
• Origin: Repositório Científico da Universidade de Évora
• Subject(s): Timor-Leste; natural ecosystems; land; well being; development
• Document Type: Part of book or chapter of book
• Language: English
• Editor(s): Leach, Michael; Mendes, Nuno Canas; Silva, Antero B. da; Boughton, Bob; Ximenes, Alarico da Costa

Description

Natural ecosystems and traditional land use systems have an important role in the life and well being of the rural population of Timor-Leste. Our objectives are: 1) to analyse the different functions that natural ecosystems and land use systems supply to the rural populations of Timor-Leste, identifying the goods and services produced and their economic value; 2) to relate the services produced by land use patterns with Timor-Leste rural population well being; and 3) to discuss the impacts of the present situation and to foresee changes on the well being of rural Timor-Leste. This paper is based on a multidisciplinary approach incorporating contributions from several fields of knowledge, and uses documentary sources, field observations and interviews. The land use patterns identified in Timor-Leste are: natural and semi-natural ecosystems, subsistence agriculture, sacred, housing, basic infrastructures and industries and services. These land use patterns produce a set of goods and which are essential for the survival and well-being of Timor-Leste rural communities. Key-words: Timor-Leste, natural ecosystems, land, well being, development