Eucalyptus PLANTATION BENEFITS TO PATCH SIZE AND SHAPE OF FORESTED AREAS IN SOUTHEAST ATLANTIC FOREST

Abstract

The adoption of mixed plantation systems (exotic and native species) is viable and represents an important alternative in the context of forest and landscape restoration. This study evaluated whether Eucalyptus cultivation is associated with changes in native forest cover and fragment connectivity in the region from 1987 to 2017. The study region (Southeast Atlantic Forest) has been undergoing a forest transition process. Based on land use/land cover maps obtained from satellite images and a pair-wise comparison, it was detected that the dynamics in one land cover were not necessarily associated with the other one. It was verified an increase in Eucalyptus cover since 2007, possibly related to the New Forest Code that allows the use of exotic species in reforestation, provided it does not exceed 50% of the total area. An increase in the native vegetation cover was also observed, highlighting the importance of restoration actions and national regulations. In addition, forest patches were larger and less complex with Eucalyptus presence, indicating that this land cover is potentially beneficial for the landscape connectivity.

Relationship between Payment for Ecosystem Services Programs and Disasters in Southeast Atlantic Forest region, Brazil

“…We also verified that 11 municipalities that joined PES programas had forest gains (although small), while the majority of municipalities that did not join PES programs had forest loss (Table II). This slight increase in forest cover in the region (seen in Table II and Figure 2), as observed in data source of the MapBiomas Project (2021), was already pointed out in the region (Sapucci et al 2021(Sapucci et al , 2022. We cannot attribute the forest gain only to the PES programs in each municipality, but landscape quality improvement related to PES projects may consequently be leading to forest gains, as indicated by Fiorini et al (2020) for Brazilian Atlantic forest of PES participating properties and landscapes.…”

Biodiversity and forestry: relative abundance of Nothura maculosa in eucalyptus plantations and native grasslands in southern Brazil

“…According to Lindenmayer et al (2009), patches of native forest fragments and riparian forests suffer a lower impact on their biologic diversity when the adjacent area is forest plantations. Eucalyptus plantations can thus be potentially beneficial for landscape connectivity (Sapucci et al, 2022). The wetlands and wet fields, associated with the extensive network of riparian forests and grasslands, where it is assumed that most of the Pampa's biodiversity is concentrated (Bencke, 2010;Costella et al, 2013), need today a huge conservation effort involving, in most cases, effective restoration and recovery projects.…”