Funcionalidade ecológica de sistema agroflorestal no Mato Grosso do Sul

Abstract

Ecological functionality is a group of processes and mechanisms by which the ecosystem maintainsitself in balance, these processes can be quantified through the transfer rates of energy and materials. Anthropic activities of land use and occupation degrade ecosystems and their natural processes are affected, requiring ecological restoration for the return of these processes. Agroforestry Systems (AFS’s) are relevant techniques in the restoration of degraded areas, they are composed of interactions between different species of forest plants, such as woody ones and agricultural crops, sometimes also with animals, which with proper management have the capacity to produce food on the same land without requiring high levels of external inputs, while conserving the environment. It can be said that it’s implementation, in addition to economic factors, such as production and social factors, such as food support; it also brings many benefits to the soil, biodiversity and ecosystem services related to air, water, nutrient cycling and others. The analysis of the many ecological attributes of the novel ecosystem is necessary to measure the conditions for the return of environmental processes. For this, ecological indicators involving stability, resilience and reliability of the ecosystem were used to evaluate the ecological functionality of an Agroforestry System in Mato Grosso do Sul located in the city of Ivinhema. The methodology was the MESMIS – Framework for Assessing the Sustainability of Natural Resource Management Systems Incorporating Sustainability Indicators. Reference values were obtained based on the literature of similar reference fragments. The AFS reached 23 of 36 points of the ideal reference parameters, and demonstrated intermediate functionality of the area, with high results for the Stability and Resilience attribute, and low values for the Reliability attribute, but these results are consistent with the age of the area, being an initial forest. Future monitoring of lagged factors can help to keep track of the return of these processes over time.