Silvopastoral systems and ecosystem services: the view of dairy farmers from the capital of agroecology in Southern Brazil

Abstract

This research seeks to understand  the dairy sector protagonists about  the adoption of silvopastoral systems for shade and synergically rehabilitate the rural landscape of the Atlantic Forest Biome. The study was carried out in the Capital of Agroecology, southern Brazil. The data were collected through semi-structured interviews with the main groups of dairy farmers. Randomly, 30 producers using the Voisin system and 30 using semi-traditional confinement were interviewed. In order to understand the farmers’position it was used Pearson's Chi-Square, Fisher's exact, and a multivariate analysis as an alternative of ordering the producer groups, with Multiple Correspondence Analysis. Most of the producers presented a proactive position regarding the adoption of silvopastoral practices. The implementation of silvopastoral systems in the properties was accepted by the great majority. These results show a paradigm shift over the past decade boosting public policies to improve pasture based dairy, and mitigating livestock impacts on climate change and environmental degradation.