Slash-and-burn or swidden agriculture, commonly referred to as shifting cultivation, is a farming method typically utilized in forested areas. It entails cutting and burning the vegetation to clear a small plot of land, which is then planted with crops for a few years until the fertility of the soil deteriorates. Following this time, farmers stop working the land and move on to clear a new region, leaving the formerly farmed land to repopulate naturally. Shifting cultivation is mainly used by small-scale subsistence farmers and indigenous populations. Although it adapts to the natural ecosystem and enables the production of a variety of crops, if improperly managed, it can result in deforestation and soil degradation. To safeguard the preservation of forests and long-term food security, efforts are being undertaken to promote sustainable alternatives to shifting agriculture, such as agroforestry and improved land management techniques.