slash-and-burn
SLASH-und-BURN
/ˈslæʃ ənd ˈbɜːn/
A method of agriculture in which existing vegetation is cut down and burned off before new seeds are sown.
Often used by subsistence farmers; it provides a short-term boost in soil fertility but is unsustainable on a large scale.
The story behind the word. A descriptive compound that literally explains the two-step process: first you 'slash' the trees with machetes, then you 'burn' the debris.
Word relationships
- swidden agriculture: A more technical, anthropological term for the same practice.
- sustainable farming: Farming that meets current needs without compromising the future.
Commonly confused with
- clear-cutting: Clear-cutting is for timber; slash-and-burn is for creating temporary farmland.
Collocations
- slash-and-burn agriculture
- slash-and-burn farming
- slash-and-burn techniques
Idioms & expressions
- slash and burn policy
- A ruthless or destructive policy, often in business or politics.
Example sentences
- "Slash-and-burn agriculture has been practiced by indigenous groups for thousands of years." Agricultural history
- "The widespread use of slash-and-burn techniques is a major driver of deforestation in the tropics." Environmental warning
Memory hook
The name is the instruction: Slash it, then Burn it. Slash-and-Burn = Cut-and-Fire.
When not to use
Don't use for controlled burns used by foresters to prevent wildfires.
Fun facts
- While often criticized today, slash-and-burn was once a perfectly sustainable practice when populations were small and forests had decades to recover.
Related words
Explore more words
deforest, Deforestation, soil fertility, subsistence, permaculture, crop rotation
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