Sustentabilidade de sistemas agroflorestais do Vale do Ribeira

Abstract

The production of food and agroforestry products focuses on environmental, social and economic sustainability. However, there are few studies that assess the sustainability of agroforestry systems (AFSs) in these three dimensions simultaneously. The objective of this study was to assess the sustainability of AFSs in the Ribeira Valley region of São Paulo, using social, environmental and economic indicators and indexes, as well as an overall sustainability index for AFSs of different complexities. The areas were classified as Biodiverse AFSs (BIOD) when they had at least 10 native regional tree species and at least 200 trees/ha. Areas that did not comply with these criteria, but met the general definition of AFS, were classified as Simplified AFS (SIMP). A questionnaire was applied to 9 producers to obtain their profile and that of their properties, in the municipalities of Sete Barras, Registro, Eldorado and Pariquera-Açu. To collect field data, samples were collected from 900 m2 plots in the agricultural production area of these properties. The following data were obtained: geographic location of the property; physical-chemical analyses of the soil; deposition of litter and complete forest inventory. The total number of plots was 11, ranging from Biodiverse Agroforestry Systems (04) to Simplified Agroforestry Systems (07). The five social indicators used were: “Family Income”, “Education Level”, “Job Generation”, “Water Security” and “Sewage Treatment”. The seven environmental indicators used were: “Compliance with the Native Vegetation Protection Law (LPVN)”, “No Agrochemicals (or Agricultural Defensives)”, “AGB (Above Ground Biomass)”, “Number of trees/ha”, “Shannon Index”, “Proportion of Regional Native Tree Species”, “Tree Species Richness”. The six economic indicators used were: “Target Market”, “Soil pH”, “Perception of Profitability”, “Has Certification”, “Receives Technical Assistance”, “Product Valuation”. The indices were calculated based on the result of the corresponding indicators, through the average of the normalized values between 0 and 1. The Sustainability Index was calculated through the average of the social, environmental and economic indices. It was observed that the producer's level of education and the certification of organic products directly interfere in the perception of profitability. BIOD AFSs present greater Environmental Sustainability when compared to SIMP AFSs and, environmentally, are similar to areas of Natural Vegetation Regeneration. There was no statistical difference between the social, economic and general index indicators and indices. These results reinforce the use of AFSs as a tool for mitigating climate change, as they promote environmental gains and are equivalent to more simplified production models in social and economic issues. It is important to highlight that sustainability is an ongoing process, and it is necessary to evaluate it regularly to ensure its continuity.