Sustainability indicators for agro-forest systems: a survey of methodologies and indicators used

Abstract

Agroforestry Systems are viable for family farming as an alternative to conventional agriculture. To assess the sustainability of these systems, indicators can be used. The studies of sustainability indicators in the systems can be an incentive mechanism for their expansion, subsidizing the performance of the technical assistance and rural extension (TARE), the investment in public policies, contributing to the scientific and technological development, and new research. In this context, the research is guided by the analysis of studies on sustainability indicators in agroecosystems through the production of articles from the last 30 years, in the Capes Journals database, which is a virtual library in Brazil. The searches, using terms in Spanish, Portuguese, and English, resulted in a low number of articles related to the theme, with a little participatory approach, focused on reduced dimensions of sustainability, and with different methodologies. These results demonstrate the need for more studies, in a participatory way, to obtain representative results, to contribute to better management and dissemination of SAFs, as guiding decision-making processes and public policies.

Keywords:
agroecology; sustainable agriculture; conservation