Agroforestry systems as habitat aggregators: a spatiotemporal analysis of the Brazilian subtropical Atlantic forest

Abstract Agricultural expansion, especially in the Neotropics, has been a major driver of habitat and ecosystem loss through the conversion of native vegetation into croplands and pastures. In southern Brazil, large areas of Atlantic Forest have been lost for this purpose. Current estimates suggest that only 7.5% of the original Atlantic Forest remains. In contrast, alternative agricultural approaches, particularly Agroforestry Systems (AF), have emerged as sustainable strategies that mitigate negative impacts on natural ecosystems. We analyzed the relationship between AF and the land use pattern in Atlantic Forest of southern Brazil, based on satellite images obtained between 2000 and 2020. We evaluated the changes in land use around the AF and compared them with random units (RU). From 2000 to 2020, areas surrounding AF tend to remain stable, showing no evident reduction in native habitats such as forests. In contrast, areas around RU exhibited a marked expansion of agriculture and pasture cover. This suggests that AF contribute to the conservation of Atlantic Forest in Southern Brazil.