Improving an agroforestry system with livestock in southern Brazil

Abstract

Agroforestry systems hold significant environmental and cultural value but are yet to receive economic valorisation. In southern Brazil there is a centuries old agroforestry system called Caíva which is classified as a silvopastoral system, combining native trees, cattle herds and pastures. Caívas occupy significant land area and contribute to priceless forest conservation, maintaining rare and threatened trees, but challenges of legal insecurity, low economic yield and ineffective management are threatening the preservation of caívas. To address these challenges, the Agricultural Research and Rural Extension Company of Santa Catarina State (Epagri) began conducting research in 2006 to develop technologies that would increase productivity while maintaining forest cover. Their technology has shown promising results, increasing animal production by up to 400% while still maintaining the tree stratum and active forest regeneration. Epagri’s technologies are based on five activities: the selection of adapted perennial pastures, planting improved pastures without soil disturbance, soil liming and annual fertilisation, rotational grazing, and overseeding with ryegrass and clover during the autumn/winter period. By adopting Epagri's technologies, caíva owners can increase their income, maintain active forest regeneration, and ensure legal certainty over their properties. These strategies are primarily applicable to open and very open caívas, and it is recommended that other types of caívas be used for the preservation and provision of ecosystem services. Research on caivas improvement has shown multiple benefits, emphasising the importance of continued investment in research and development, to further valorise agroforestry systems. It is essential, however, to balance these productive improvements with the maintenance of permanent preservation areas and mixed ombrophilous forest landscapes.