Forest expansion in the Santa Catarina's Plateau: a perspective from the social and economical profile of landowners.

Abstract

The growing valorization of the log have been converted the Santa Catarina Plateau in a forest base region. However, the generated demand for land and the consequent increase in its value, is becoming an obstacle for the investors. Thus, one of the issues for this problem is the land use without possession, adopting alternatives models for reforestation as leasing, fomentation and others. When developing this activities, they have looked for make the agriculturist a partner in their business, giving conditions to produce with social and environmental repercussion. The objective for this study was of delineate the profile of the landowners, in order to proportionate to forest market agents an expedient for decision making. 109 questionaires were accomplished. In agreement with the results, it can be summarizing that: it’s predominant the forest activity with their own resources; most of the landowners were more than 50 years-old, living in small or medium farms and they have not thought about going away from there. Due to the rural exodus of the youths, the offer of land for leasing is growing in this region.