Multifunctional Mixed-Forest Plantations: The Use of Brazilian Native Leguminous Tree Species for Sustainable Rural Development

Abstract

Mixed-forest plantations have high potential to be an alternative to conventional monoculture systems to address environmental, social, and economic issues. This forest system can be considered as an adequate technique of climate-smart forestry. In this context, we focus on the Brazilian experience of the potential of mixed-species plantations with native tree species and N2-fixing leguminous species for timber and non-timber products, for the reclamation of degraded lands and for environmental services. In all Brazilian biomes there are many leguminous tree species which are suitable to produce timber and other products. Knowledge of their functional ecological traits is important to ensure the sustainability of the mixed-species plantations. The mixed plantation of six native leguminous hardwood species of Atlantic Forest performed better than pure plantations for many traits. Further, it caused positive changes in soil properties. The use of fast-growing N2-fixing leguminous trees associated with hardwood species showed viability for the reclamation of degraded lands. Agroforestry systems based on cacao (Theobroma cacao) are the best example for sustainability of mixtures of N2-fixing and non-N2-fixing tree species because of their high potential for sequestering carbon, recycling nutrients, and providing other environmental services. Thus, the sustainability of such mixtures can support farmers as managers of complex social-ecological systems increasing rural prosperity.