Slash-and-burn agriculture has been practiced for millennia in tropical countries throughout the world. In this form of agriculture, some timber may be harvested from tropical forests prior to their conversion to agricultural use, but most of the aboveground biomass is cut and burned on site. Agricultural crops are planted immediately following burning. Recently, there has been increased pressure to harvest all timber (for transport off site) from tropical forests prior to their conversion to agriculture. What are the implications of such complete harvest for the success of subsequent agricultural activities on oligotrophic soils in the tropics?