This paper investigates the ecological consequences of agricultural transformations in the Philippines during the Spanish and U.S. colonial periods (1870–1925). Using colonial censuses and datasets, the study analyzes land use, production, and agricultural yields. The results indicate increased agricultural production and land use for major crops in both periods, but yields remained largely constant. Colonial efforts to "improve" agriculture through increased production per hectare were ineffective. The provincial-scale analysis highlights the influence of labor patterns, geography, and socio-political arrangements on ecological outcomes.

David Max Findley, Noel Amano, Ivana Biong, Greg Bankoff, Patricia Irene Dacudao, Francis Gealogo, Rebecca Hamilton, Ruel Pagunsan, Patrick Roberts