Occurrence of Euterpe edulis Mart. (Arecaceae) in Atlantic Forest fragments in southern Brazil

2023

Sci Rep

Euterpe edulis is an endangered palm species that provides the most important non-timber forest product exploited in its natural habitat, the Brazilian Atlantic Forest hotspot1,4. From 1991 to 2017, pasturelands, agriculture, and monoculture of tree plantations were responsible for 97% of Atlantic Forest deforested areas in Brazil and Santa Catarina was one of the Brazilian states with the greatest loss of forest area14. In the last decade, E. edulis fruits reached their highest commercial value, producing the southeastern equivalent of Amazonian ‘‘açai’’ (Euterpe oleracea)5,7,8. As a shade-tolerant species, E. edulis adapts very well to agroforestry systems8,10. To evaluate potential areas for cultivation of E. edulis through agroforestry systems, we developed and applied a spatial model for mapping suitable areas. To accomplish this, we analyzed multisource biophysical data and E. edulis distribution data from the Forest Inventory of Santa Catarina. We identified two areas with potential occurrence of the species, one in the domains of coastal Dense Ombrophilous Forest where the species is more common and another in the domains of inland Deciduous Seasonal Forest where its occurrence was suspected, but not proven, until 2021. Today, Deciduous Seasonal Forest is the most fragmented and impacted by agriculture. Our model, together with confirmed areas of occurrence, indicates that deciduous seasonal forest region should be prioritized for production and recovery of E. edulis through agroforestry systems.

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 94%

“…3 F). Habitat loss at deciduous seasonal forest explains the scarcity of individuals of E. edulis , even though it is a region ecologically suitable for the species 6 , 37 .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Potential cultivation areas of Euterpe edulis (Martius) for rainforest recovery, repopulation and açai production in Santa Catarina, Brazil

2023

Sci Rep

“…From the 1960s to now, the model based on increasing grain productivity (soybean and corn) and the expansion of pig, poultry and dairy farming contributed to deforestation, soil degradation 37,38 and, mainly, the reduction in water sources and contamination 39 . Currently, both oristic composition and fauna hold predominance as secondary species, a fact that illustrates the historic exploitation and degradation of deciduous seasonal forest in the state 40 .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…3F). Habitat loss at deciduous seasonal forest explains the scarcity of individuals of E. edulis, even though it is a region ecologically suitable for the species 10,37 .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Potential cultivation areas of Euterpe edulis (Martius) for rainforest recovery, repopulation and açai production in Santa Catarina, Brazil

2022

Preprint

Euterpe edulis is an endangered palm species that provides the most important non-timber forest product exploited in its natural habitat, the Brazilian Atlantic Forest hotspot1,2. From 1991 to 2017, pasturelands, agriculture, and monoculture of tree plantations were responsible for 97% of Atlantic Forest deforested areas in Brazil and Santa Catarina was one of the Brazilian states with the greatest loss of forest area 3. In the last decade, E. edulis fruits reached their highest commercial value, producing the southeastern equivalent of Amazonian ‘‘açai’’ (Euterpe oleracea) 4–6. As a shade-tolerant species, E. edulis adapts very well to agroforestry systems 5,7. To evaluate potential areas for cultivation of E. edulis through agroforestry systems, we developed and applied a spatial model for mapping suitable areas. To accomplish this, we analyzed multisource biophysical data and E. edulis distribution data from the Forest Inventory of Santa Catarina. We identified two areas with potential occurrence of the species, one in the domains of coastal Dense Ombrophilous Forest where the species is more common and another in the domains of inland Deciduous Seasonal Forest where its occurrence was suspected, but not proven, until 2021. Today, Deciduous Seasonal Forest is the most fragmented and impacted by agriculture. Our model, together with confirmed areas of occurrence, indicates that deciduous seasonal forest region should be prioritized for production and recovery of E. edulis through agroforestry systems.

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Potential cultivation areas of Euterpe edulis (Martius) for rainforest recovery, repopulation and açai production in Santa Catarina, Brazil

2022

Preprint

Euterpe edulis is an endangered palm species that provides the most important non-timber forest product exploited in its natural habitat, the Brazilian Atlantic Forest hotspot1,2. From 1991 to 2017, pasturelands, agriculture, and monoculture of tree plantations were responsible for 97% of Atlantic Forest deforested areas in Brazil and Santa Catarina was one of the Brazilian states with the greatest loss of forest area 3. In the last decade, E. edulis fruits reached their highest commercial value, producing the southeastern equivalent of Amazonian ‘‘açai’’ (Euterpe oleracea) 4–6. As a shade-tolerant species, E. edulis adapts very well to agroforestry systems 5,7. To evaluate potential areas for cultivation of E. edulis through agroforestry systems, we developed and applied a spatial model for mapping suitable areas. To accomplish this, we analyzed multisource biophysical data and E. edulis distribution data from the Forest Inventory of Santa Catarina. We identified two areas with potential occurrence of the species, one in the domains of coastal Dense Ombrophilous Forest where the species is more common and another in the domains of inland Deciduous Seasonal Forest where its occurrence was suspected, but not proven, until 2021. Today, Deciduous Seasonal Forest is the most fragmented and impacted by agriculture. Our model, together with confirmed areas of occurrence, indicates that deciduous seasonal forest region should be prioritized for production and recovery of E. edulis through agroforestry systems.