Programa Centroamericano de Ciencias Sociales. Direcci n de Colonizaci n Agricola-Instituto de Transformaci n Agraria. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Franja Transversal del Norte settlement area. International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources.
Colonization has historical, political, economic, social, and ecological aspects.
Politically, colonization is an extremely useful expedient. It also opens possibilities for building roads, houses for the new settlers, and of course a whole array of land speculation opportunities. The image of a land hungry peasant family moving into a new colonization area, with initial loans, a new house, education and health services, is without question a very socially satisfying scheme. The ecological implication is perhaps the least studied or understood. The capability of land to be managed on a sustainable basis to support a family is a question seldom considered.