What is shifting cultivation? Why is it banned?

Shifting cultivation is an agricultural practice in which a piece of land is farmed on, only to be abandoned later after an initial use.

Shifting cultivation is banned because its practice is largely harmful for forests. Usually forests are burnt in order to make way for new farmland and this can cause uncontrollable forest fires.

For more relevant articles refer to the links given below:

• UPSC Environment and Ecology Questions
• Conservation of Biodiversity
• UPSC Environment and Ecology