Taungya agroforestry system for restoration of legal reserves: economic indicators.

Abstract

. Pontal do Paranapanema, in the extremity west of São Paulo state, is a well known region in Brazil due mainly to the land conflicts, mobilized by the MST (Movement of Landless Rural Workers). This land reform movement has changed the rural landscape, where small forest fragments are today surrounded by human settlements. The São Paulo State Forest Code foresees that these settlements, as well as any rural property, must keep 20% of its area covered by natural vegetation. This area, so-called Legal Reserve, must be restored if their original vegetation had been removed or impacted. Thus, this research was carried out in Santa Zelia settlement, in Pontal do Paranapanema, located into 27,5 hectares of Legal Reserve area. Eleven families of this settlement were involved in an agroforestry project, through Taungya agroforestry system, where native trees were intercropped with annual crops for restoration this legal reserve. Three variables had been used for the economic evaluation in the area: Liquid Present Value (VPL), Relation Benefit-Cost (RB/C) and payback. The results showed positive values for eight out to the eleven analyzed families, leading to a conclusion that Agroforestry Systems can be adopted in the recovery of areas of Legal Reserve in rural properties. Its economic viability will mainly depend on intensifying the intercropping and on satisfactory market prices for the annual crops.