Deforestation, Coffee Cultivation, and Land Degradation: The Challenge of Developing a Sustainable Land Management Strategy in Brazil`s Mata Atlântica Rainforest

Kelly Watson

INTRODUCTION

The Mata Atlântica region hosts some 80 million people, who create substantial pressures on land and forest resources (Rees 1990). The Mata Atlântica is listed as critical status with level I highest priority for conservation (Dinerstein 1995).

• Within the first century of coffee cultivation, some 7,200 km2 of primary forest were cleared for coffee cultivation (Dean 1995).  Coffee cultivation creates a cycle of deforestation and land degradation, and with the volatile global market, also contributes to poverty. 
• In order to maintain the present forest area as well as help with its regeneration, there should be better methods of land management for local coffee farmers, as well as other means of income to limit coffee cultivation.

OBJECTIVE

1. To address the causes and development behind problems of land management in Brazil´s Mata Atlântica rainforest.
2. To analyze the ecological, economic and social elements in the struggle between forest conservation and agricultural productivity.
3. To develop an approach to land management that integrates the use of ecologically sustainable land management techniques with diversification of production and development of alternative markets to enhance economic and social prospects for farmers.

METHODOLOGY

The study was conducted through various means of qualitative social research:

• Participant observation at various local meetings, such as the Rural Farmer´s Union and EMATER (regional agricultural extension agency)
• Informal interviews with local farmers and local officials
• As well as every day interaction with Iracambi.

In addition, a systems analysis approach and a conceptual model were used for the problem´s analysis.

RESULTS

Options for sustainable land management include both increasing soil fertility and reducing erosion through agronomic improvements, such as intercropping and crop rotation, as well as soil management and more mechanical measures.  Local participation is needed to implement these strategies.  A Participatory Rural Appraisal could be useful to integrate the science of land management into local knowledge and practice.

The case study of Iracambi analyzes the success of the organization through their land management projects and experiments with forest management in the Mata Atlântica.  Land management projects include using leguminous plants, Mucuna and Caharalia, to maintain soil fertility and banana plants to limit soil erosion.  Iracambi uses an “over the fence” technique to disseminate information to the local community by telling them what does and does not work.  The experiments with forest management involve establishing new forest in open fields, re-establishing new forest in phased shading and enriching regenerating forest.  The hope is to make the forest a source of income for the local communities to help encourage its preservation.

SUGGESTIONS
Future projects could:

1. Study how to increase opportunities for diversification of production
2. Examine the effectiveness of participatory programs in order to increase productivity in the region
3. Conduct a cost-benefit analysis of soil conservation
4. Create a reward-based system to encourage forest conservation.

REFERENCES

Dean, Warren.  With Broadax and Firebrand: The Destruction of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest.  University of California Press: Berkeley.  1995

Dinerstein, E. et.al.  A Conservation Assessment of the Terrestrial Ecosystems of Latin America and the Caribbean.  World Bank: Washington, D.C.  1995

Rees, Robin (ed.)  The Last Rainforests.  Mitchell Beazley Publishers: London. 1990