Tree cultivation among farmers who participated in projects of agroforestry systems in the Cerrado

Abstract

The promotion of agroecology in the Cerrado (Brazilian savannas) often result in projects to
promote agroforestry systems (AFS) with family farmers. However, there is little information
about the local practices of tree cultivation, which makes it difficult to evaluate the real impacts
of these projects. This research sought to compare tree cultivation practices between farmers
who participated to AFS projects and farmers who did not participate. We found 78 tree
species, 38 of which were native of the Cerrado biome. The trees are cultivated in 5 different
cultivations units: backyards, live fences, orchards, fieldsand conservation areas. The main difference
between farmers who have participated in AFS project was the species richness, but
among the five farmers that had the biggest cultivated areas with trees and the largest species
richness, only one had participated in the project.