Rural Roads Are Paving the Way for Land-Use Intensification in the Uplands of Laos

Road expansion has played a prominent role in the agrarian transition that marked integration of swidden-based farming systems into market economy Southeast Asia. Rural roads deeply altered landscape and livelihood structures by allowing penetration boom crops such as hybrid maize remote territories. In this article, we investigate impact rural road developments on livelihoods northern Laos through longitudinal study conducted over period 15 years forest frontier. We studied adaptive management strategies local stakeholders combination individual surveys, focus group discussions, participatory mapping remote-sensing approaches. The revealed short-term benefits feeder poverty alleviation development, but also negative long-term effects agroecosystem health agricultural productivity related to unsustainable land use. Lessons learnt about mechanisms intensification helped understanding constraints faced external interventions promoting sustainable practices. When negotiated communities for their own interest, may provide livelihood-enhancing opportunities access resources, rather than undermining them.