There are some 40,000 Kuna indians by Panamanian census estimates. They live on about 40 major populated islands. In addition to hunting and fishing the Kuna practice slash and burn agriculture on the mainland to produce food. Most, but not all, of these practices are sustainable in the long term. It should be noted that a few of the above practices require high organic inputs, and that some practices have high labor requirements.
Some practices have multiple benefits.
For example, the use of mulches prevents erosion, improves soil quality, manages weeds, lowers soil temperatures, conserves moisture, and may aid in the management of soil-borne diseases. Mulches also reduce rain splashing, an important means of dissemination for numerous bacterial and fungal pathogens. Thus, the use of mulches is increasingly recommended in agricultural development efforts. An example of the target audience of work on international development. The Cornell University course Traditional Agriculture in Developing Countries examines traditional systems from several disciplinary points of view.