Agroforestry as a Tool for Restoration in Atlantic Forest: Can We Find Multi-Purpose Species?

Abstract

Agroforestry Systems (AFS), especially multistrata or multilayer AFS, are a feasible tool for forest restoration. The presence of native species in AFS enables forest regeneration whereas brings back forest structure and also recovers some functions and environmental services. At the same time, they can produce a range of annual and perennial crops and trees that provide food and income over time. In this way, it is crucial the selection of species which compose AFS in order to play in the best ecological and economic roles considering local conditions. Our goal was to find multipurpose species that could supply forest products, and could be used in restoration and agroforestry initiatives in Brazilian Atlantic Forest, by analyzing secondary data. We identified 92 potential tree species as raw material for forest management belonging to 11 categories of timber and non-timber products and identified their functional attributes in AFS. Most of these species allows non-timber products management, ensuring the long-term permanence of forest structure, which is more compatible with restoration processes.

Dynamics of solar radiation and soybean yield in agroforestry systems

“…In this context, the use of native species presents itself as an interesting alternative to compose agroforestry systems, in terms of their economic potential, providing wood and food, as well as favoring the restoration of the biome (Oliveira and Carvalhaes 2016). Moreover, in this study, it was explicit that even in consortium with native tree species, crowning and pruning of the tree component is directly related to the productive success of the annual harvest and, therefore, should be considered in the system management.…”

Forest Structure, Wood Standing Stock, and Tree Biomass in Different Restoration Systems in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest

“…Less complex systems, composed of shorter-lived species, can be managed to promote higher biomass accumulation in the future, by the recruitment and regeneration of species with longer life spans. Nevertheless, the system that shows the best potential to reconcile ecological restoration of multiple services is the AFSm, because of its high carbon sequestration potential, with a better balance between short, medium, and long-cycle species [58]. Agroforestry has been considered a leading agricultural practice for mitigating and adapting to climate change impacts, as it can increase carbon sequestration and improve soil quality [31,59]; such systems also provide more flexible options to reconcile economic and social aspects [59].…”

Distribuição de Sistemas Agroflorestais no Estado De São Paulo: apontamentos para restauração florestal e produção sustentável

“…Além delas, existem dezenas de espécies arbóreas nativas, fornecedoras de produtos florestais madeireiros e não madeireiros, passíveis de serem utilizadas em modelos agroflorestais nas áreas de cobertura original da Mata Atlântica, muitas das mesmas de ocorrência regional nas fitofisionomias presentes em São Paulo (CARVALHAES et al, 2008;SOUZA et al, 2010;OLIVEIRA e CARVALHAES, 2016).…”