Yerba mate landscapes: Forest use and socio-environmental conservation

Abstract

The Yerba Mate (Ilex paraguariensis St. Hil.) is a native arboreal species of forest formations that include the Araucaria Forest and is of considerable socio-economic importance in much of Brazil's southern region. This paper aims to study the different landscapes of the native Yerba Mate systems (NYMS) in the main producing region of native Yerba Mate in the northern plateau region of the State of Santa Catarina, Brazil (Planalto Norte Catarinense-PNC) and their relationship to socio-environmental conservation in the context of family farming. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with family farmers and NYMS were evaluated following a specific route. Thirteen types of NYMS Landscape Units were identified as a diagnostic basis for the sustainable management of NYMS and forests. It proved possible to conclude that the Yerba Mate extraction activity is of great importance to socio-environmental conservation in the PNC.