Green governmentality and swidden decline on Palawan Island

Environmental governance initiatives on Palawan Island, Philippines, are reshaping local swidden farming practices through a process termed 'green governmentality.' This study reveals how technical knowledge and sustainability narratives, deployed by diverse institutions, influence Tagbanua farmers to shift from long fallow cultivation to permanent agriculture. While governmental discourse is flexibly interpreted, it systematically reinforces swidden decline, increasing livelihood risks and marginalization. The research combines case studies with spatial analysis to demonstrate the convergence of global governance agendas with local political economies, highlighting unintended social and environmental consequences.

Dressler, W. (2013). Green governmentality and swidden decline on Palawan Island. Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers, 39(2), 250–264. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1111/tran.12026