Cacao Agroforestry: A land-management strategy for ecosystem restoration and sustainable agriculture in the brazilian atlantic rainforest

Presentation Type

Abstract

Faculty Advisor

Greg Pope

Access Type

Event

Start Date

25-4-2025 10:30 AM

End Date

25-4-2025 11:29 AM

Description

Deforestation in Brazil’s tropical rainforests, particularly the Amazon and Mata Atlântica, is an urgent ecological crisis threatening biodiversity, soil fertility, and local livelihoods. The impact of these ecological crises is magnified by the vast biodiversity of Brazil’s ecosystems. Brazil's Atlantic Forest is among the most biodiverse ecosystems on the planet, home to over 8,000 vascular plant species, approximately 40% of which are endemic to the region. Large-scale clearing for agriculture—especially soybean farming and cattle ranching—fuels biodiversity loss, soil degradation, and perpetuates injustices inflicted by industrial agriculture. Addressing this crisis requires the urgent adoption of sustainable land-use alternatives that benefit conservation values and farmers' livelihoods. This thesis highlights the urgent need for a sustainable agricultural alternative in response to Brazil's environmental crisis. It presents a comprehensive analysis of the ecological benefits of cacao cultivation, including its positive impact on soil fertility, organic matter production, carbon sequestration, and biodiversity. Furthermore, it explores the economic viability of cacao farming as a sustainable agricultural alternative in these regions. Cacao agroforestry is a sustainable land-use alternative that entails lower investment costs, reduces reliance on chemical inputs, minimizes soil degradation, deforestation, and water consumption, and plays a crucial role in ecosystem restoration and soil regeneration in the Brazilian Amazon and Mata Atlantica.

Comments

Poster presentation at the 2025 Student Research Symposium.

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Apr 25th, 10:30 AM Apr 25th, 11:29 AM

Cacao Agroforestry: A land-management strategy for ecosystem restoration and sustainable agriculture in the brazilian atlantic rainforest

Deforestation in Brazil’s tropical rainforests, particularly the Amazon and Mata Atlântica, is an urgent ecological crisis threatening biodiversity, soil fertility, and local livelihoods. The impact of these ecological crises is magnified by the vast biodiversity of Brazil’s ecosystems. Brazil's Atlantic Forest is among the most biodiverse ecosystems on the planet, home to over 8,000 vascular plant species, approximately 40% of which are endemic to the region. Large-scale clearing for agriculture—especially soybean farming and cattle ranching—fuels biodiversity loss, soil degradation, and perpetuates injustices inflicted by industrial agriculture. Addressing this crisis requires the urgent adoption of sustainable land-use alternatives that benefit conservation values and farmers' livelihoods. This thesis highlights the urgent need for a sustainable agricultural alternative in response to Brazil's environmental crisis. It presents a comprehensive analysis of the ecological benefits of cacao cultivation, including its positive impact on soil fertility, organic matter production, carbon sequestration, and biodiversity. Furthermore, it explores the economic viability of cacao farming as a sustainable agricultural alternative in these regions. Cacao agroforestry is a sustainable land-use alternative that entails lower investment costs, reduces reliance on chemical inputs, minimizes soil degradation, deforestation, and water consumption, and plays a crucial role in ecosystem restoration and soil regeneration in the Brazilian Amazon and Mata Atlantica.