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(Reference retrieved automatically from Web of Science through information on FAPESP grant and its corresponding number as mentioned in the publication by the authors.)

How good are tropical forest patches for ecosystem services provisioning?

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Author(s):
Ferraz, Silvio F. B. [1] ; Ferraz, Katia M. P. M. B. [1] ; Cassiano, Carla C. [2] ; Brancalion, Pedro Henrique S. [1] ; da Luz, Daniela T. A. [2] ; Azevedo, Thais N. [3] ; Tambosi, Leandro R. [3] ; Metzger, Jean Paul [4]
Total Authors: 8
Affiliation:
[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Luiz de Queiroz Coll Agr, Dept Forest Sci, Piracicaba, SP - Brazil
[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Luiz de Queiroz Coll Agr, Forest Resources Grad Program, Piracicaba, SP - Brazil
[3] Univ Sao Paulo, Biosci Inst, Terr & Aquat Ecosyst Ecol Program, Sao Paulo - Brazil
[4] Univ Sao Paulo, Dept Ecol, Biosci Inst, Sao Paulo - Brazil
Total Affiliations: 4
Document type: Journal article
Source: LANDSCAPE ECOLOGY; v. 29, n. 2, p. 187-200, FEB 2014.
Web of Science Citations: 60
Abstract

Native forests play an important role regarding ecosystem services related to biodiversity, water, and nutrient cycling, and the intensity of those services should be related to the amount, configuration and quality of the forest. However, in highly dynamic landscapes, such as some tropical regions, ecosystem services are potentially affected not only by the present landscape structure, but also by the historical land use. Here we propose a simple methodological framework to evaluate the contribution of past landscape dynamics and present landscape structure in the provision of ecosystem services. We applied this framework to a traditional agricultural landscape from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest hotspot, where natural forests cover has increased from 8 to 16 % in the last 60 years (1962-2008), and where old forests are being reduced while young forests are being regenerated. Forests of different ages, in association with current landscape structure, reveal a mosaic of forest patches under different conditions, implying different abilities to deliver ecosystem services. With the replacement of old-growth forests by young-regenerating forests and a high level of forest fragmentation, less than 1/4 of the current forest cover is able to fully satisfy the ecosystem service demands. To avoid such tendency, government policies should not only focus on increasing forest cover, but also in conserving old-growth forest fragments or increasing forest quality. The proposed methodology allows integrating historical land use and current landscape structure to evaluate ecosystem services provision and can be useful to establish programs of payment for ecosystem services. (AU)

FAPESP's process: 11/19767-4 - The role of forest fragments in controlling water quality and ecosystem functioning of streams draining agricultural catchments
Grantee:Silvio Frosini de Barros Ferraz
Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
FAPESP's process: 10/13627-3 - The role of forest remnants in the maintenance of water quality in agricultural watersheds
Grantee:Carla Cristina Cassiano
Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
FAPESP's process: 11/06782-5 - Multi-scale assessment of environmental impacts in agricultural landscape
Grantee:Katia Maria Paschoaletto Micchi de Barros Ferraz
Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants