memex/0_inbox/in/books/PDM/Bill Mollison - Permaculture A Designer's Manual text/252.txt

eonsianliy lrrgli, lrosl unknown anlall is lrum
52-325 cm MHZ? mthls), wiih rorn mosl days and
lreguenl lhunderslorms l7s io lso/yeari, usually
lowardseyenrng or laie allernoon

lire landsclpr lealures perennial slrearns, deeply
wealheied and men Mk mu wioelr lregolillil. and
rounded hills lhere is rapid warer runrnfl and
eoaporairnn, wrlh swamps conlined lo roarls and
lowlands xryers usually haye llood»plalns and
errenlrye alluyral plains and dellaie deposrls, Ams
inland rs ullen by nyers and lriouiaries

The vegrlalion is luxurious, loesi develnpzd as
broadleal rainloresi wirlr iranas and epiphyles, very
i-nueh nuaed as lo spears—up lo no one species per
square kriornerrc The shaded noor ol ilre loresl eon-
lains lriilo grown. and has subdued lighi Mangroves
are exiensive on apprepnale eoasral and esiuarine sries.
Giowrlr is rapid. uniniernrpled and cunnnuous lnsecls
and birds are plenlilul and varied. Mnsr launa is
noeiurnal and arboreal, and iliere are abundani fish and
aqualis species, Ground 37.1125 are rare and large nerd
speeies do nor oerur.

Abour 55% ul nun-renls are held rn planrs or animals.
so ihe sorls ihemsslves are inlerirle esperully rl
elear-sulnyaied, rendrngroeiede and leash io insoluble
oxides ol iron and aluminium. Only rerraees,
hood—plains and new yoleanos lreep some soil lemliiy
replenished or held il land iseulllvaled

sraple eullriraled leods are planrain and banana,
cassava. yarns, sooonui, corn, iaro, paddy riee. duelrs,
pigs, poullry, and lish lrade and planranon eiops are
sprees, eopia. palm ol ram, rubber, banana, manilla
liernp, rare hardwoods, balsa, |mpl<il nuls, ehrele, and
dnig planis.

Housing is usually raised, rlecp roolcd. ilraielicd,
wilh permeable walls, and ssreened, Healllr problems
rel-re io sewage disposal, insecr yeelors. and 5km lungi

Design essenrials are loi—

- Hygcmc laeces dispoal

. clean warer sources

. lnlegraled and laenlgn inseclconnol |e<hnlqu5.

~ Gradual replarcmenl olground cmpi by irees.

. Preservarion ol naiural slands 0! lies

. Deoeloprnenr ol river vmus road iralfie

. Evuhmon ol nalural produels.

- NMIg (mulch) ieshnliiues ml roolaops

. Domesrre longeis lor snail and inseel pesls

. Appropnale rned nal planis.

   

wry—mu TRDP|CS
These adioin rhe wei iropres bu| are poleward ol lhem.
They lalre up aboul I57n oi earth‘s surlaee lrom lali-
rudes 05725: unbalaneed in layour ol lire soulhern
lreouspnere. The Campos, Llanos. Gran clraeo areas ol
Souur Amlriu, pans olCenrral Arnenea, eneiielrng ure
Congo basin, and many eenlral Pacific islands (Hawaill
are all wudry nopical ams, mosr now developed io
grazing,

erer, lhe low—run pcrrod, is lhe dry rune, when

252

clear sides and intem sunlighr lak: day lemperairues
lo 3va (mom or more. Hulmdlly is low, and rirong
dessrealrng winds may hlaw Summer, lire high-sun
period, is lrlre ihe wer lropiss, our episodic noodrng is
more Common and nalural erosion lherelore grealer
There are no lrosls, and leinperarures range 21-27':
(MFA in line we season, az-as-c lemon-n in dry
season. inlall rs 5152 em lloooinehesl, deueasing
lowaids desen rnaigrna. Mndward inland slopes and
eoasul mounlains may iceewe txcrssxvt rain lo ms
em um lneliesl, but rain is erralie and leasi predreralale
lowards lire deserl margins. Raul shadows Evolve on
leeslopes or rn llre lec ol mounra s.

Tue landseape rs ol inlernulleni dreams, some wadis
and liood plains, lrarsl lllnicsronel areas wrih sinkhole-s,
eenores, and aissenee ol surlaee waler lyursian,
Mexlzo) Hills are rounded, bin gully erosion can
develop rapidly on slopes arensrye inland swamps
may dcvelop ln flooded areas, and lakes in rrlls are
eommon lAlrisal Rivas ollen have dangerous bar-
wsys dl sill and sand due lo arrive erosion sequences.

Thu regrons eonlarn llre vasl sayanirah grasslands
ol me nopirs, min “mm—bush and flairmpad Azan-
rrees (Alma), evolving lo sleppe grassland on phleius,
willi baobabs and dry-deaduous irecs Gum reash
Hi rn lull real in lhe wel season, and are ollen Inn-m
oll Alncln areas conlain enormous numbers ol herd
species. zebra, gnu, anielope, and llrerclere large
(Hum/ores. Arboredl species oeeur only willrin lrce
iriands and lhe gallery loresls ol valleys There are
lermiies. osrrien, rhea, loeusr, and large numbqn oi
isplrle species and insects.

Soils are generally more leriile and alkaline lhan lhe
wei iiupies, especially where lhey are less lcacled by
rain rowards ihe deserrs, Culdvaled land is snll al r-rslr
lrnm erralre rain and erosion, leae ng. and wind
ellecrs. Due lo oreigrazlngand luc,e a may eaiend
lire deserr inlo ilrese areas, or inio dry-inmmu
sublmpks Serious soil erosion iesulls liom shori-lei-m
shining mlhvafiml lless lhan l5 years lallow perrodl.

Slaples are com, oullel, wneal. beans, poraloes,
eueurlaiis, peanuis, salile and goals, sheep, and garnc
piodueis. Herding ol low yield large herds rs a major
erosion hazard Planrarron erops are sugar, rolien.
peanuis, pineapple, sisal :xporis are callle and sheep
produels. and hardwoods liour gallery lniesis

Houses and grananes are generally mud or pise wnh
ihaleli

Design essenirals are [or

. sirrall domesiie waierslorage and relieulauon.

. Hedgerow againsr winds

. him use legumes sush as Arman nlblda

. impmyedsleelr yaneries and s|n<k managemenl.

. Narural herding syslem olloeal herd speoes

- Mulelr urcolgrasses

- xnmsed iree crop ol high lorage value

- Decreared rue neoueney.

- Tree slands lor fuel and srrusiurnl umber.

. Na—dllage leui and mulehl grain reehnigues

. low bunds lo. waler releniiron.