CAN ARAUCARIA FOREST REMNANTS REGENERATE AFTER 70 YEARS OF ANIMAL HUSBANDRY? A CASE STUDY ON CAÍVAS IN SOUTHERN BRAZIL

Resumo

In Southern Brazil, forest fragments are commonly used for agroforestry systems (AFS) - called caívas - focused on erva-mate and livestock production. Although the caívas have helped maintain forest cover, there is a general lack of understanding of the effects of this system on species diversity and their potential for ecological restoration. Aiming to contribute to a better understanding of the forest dynamics (trees and regeneration) of these AFS, we present a six-year case study in which we monitored a caíva that has been used for animal husbandry for 70 years. We observe that forest management in the caíva modified the population structure mostly through reductions in the density of a few adult tree species. On the other hand, the potential regeneration shows consistent growth, including several species not found in the adult population. The caíva showed high levels of resilience in terms of regeneration, despite the extractive use of these remnants over several decades. This result demonstrates that the strategies used herein can help to restore forests with a dense and diverse forest cover within caívas. With the correct management of this regeneration potential, it is possible to maintain healthy and diverse forests that are being conserved through use.