ECOSYSTEM SERVICES IN BRAZILIAN’S SOUTHERN AGROFORESTRY SYSTEMS

Abstract

Agroforestry systems (AFS) are policultures with at least one tree species. These systems provide various ecosystem services, income increments and food safety. These ecosystem services include biodiversity conservation, carbon sequestration, reduction of crop diseases, increased biological controls, biological nitrogen fixation and nutrient cycling. A review of potential ecosystem services of AFS on Southern Brazil is presented. In addition, the potential of carbon uptake through conversion to AFS is estimated. The predominant AFS are agroforestry with yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis A. St. Hil.), silvopastures, citrus and banana orchards, and the palm açaí-juçara (Euterpe edulis Mart.). Considering the conversion of conventional systems to AFS, the silvopastures present the greatest carbon sequestration potentiality due to the great area used for cattle ranching. The conversion of citrus and banana cropping also present great carbon uptake potential besides reducing fungal and bacterial diseases. Southern Brazil presents more than 15 million hectares which could be converted into silvopasture and other AFS by taking as a model the already well-established experiences. Moreover, AFS has become a strategy for forest restoration. There are no negative trade-offs related to the silvopasture and citrus agroforestry adoption. The reasons for the low adoption of AFS are discussed.