The Impact of Traditional Silvopastoral System on the Mixed Ombrophilous Forest Remnants

Abstract

The results of an evaluation of the impact of traditional silvopastoral system on floristic and phytosociology of the Mixed Ombrophilous Forest (MOF) remnants, named caívas, in the North Plateau of Santa Catarina, South of Brazil are shown here to contribute to a better understanding of the impact of human activities on natural environments,. There was significant heterogeneity in floristic and structural aspects among the remnants. They exhibited high floristic integrity, with the presence of species typically registered in MOF. On the other hand, the incidence of exotic species was inexpressive. The predominance of smaller plant individuals than expected for adults of the species, combined with the predominance of secondary and pioneer species indicate the occurrence of repeated disturbances over the years. It is urgent to identify technological alternatives to enable appropriate foraging and increase in livestock production, ensuring economic and social sustainability with less environmental impact.

Can Araucaria Forest Remnants Regenerate After 70 Years of Animal Husbandry? A Case Study on Caívas in Southern Brazil

“…Previous research has shown that the productive focus of a caíva (greater amount of erva-mate production or higher animal load) is the main factor that affects the diversity of species, with previously observed variations among caívas of 18 to 42 species.ha -1 (HANISCH et al, 2010, PINOTTI et al, 2018.…”

“…Because the management of forests is integral to caívas, landowners have maintained forest cover that varies in terms of canopy cover, forest structure, and diversity, and management strategies depend directly on the production objectives of the farm (MELLO and PERONI, 2015). Several authors have suggested that the remaining forest fragments found in Southern Brazil continue to exist because traditional systems have protected the forests (REIS et al, 2013, PINOTTI et al, 2018.…”

Leveraging Traditional Agroforestry Practices to Support Sustainable and Agrobiodiverse Landscapes in Southern Brazil

“…Forest restoration seeks to restore gaps in forest cover and reintroduce a multi-aged tree population which can be achieved by designating areas for restoration where animal grazing is temporarily restricted (usually by using electrical fencing) for 3-5 years, after which foraging is again allowed and a new area is fenced. Monitoring of these areas showed that regeneration was highly effective in restoring species diversity and structure as 59 different tree species were recorded in the fenced areas [56,57], which was greater than the diversity of the adult tree population. Additionally, we recommend thinning of abundant species and tree clusters in order to increase species diversity and establish a more even forest canopy, respectively.…”