Project document

Valmir Mota


20. The land in the Valmir Mota Settlement is one of the youngest agrarian reform area established in SAS. In this way, it is not yet being used extensively for agriculture because settlers do not have licenses for alternative land use, but only for some crops like okra. The APP, which includes part of the large remaining forest fragments in Sergipe, has not been damaged. The area of the settlement's Legal Reserve of approximately 178 ha. was divided into three parts. All together, the shrubs and trees classified as hyperxerophilous vegetation cover 427 ha. Within the Legal Reserve there is an apiary, which provides indications that it is possible to undertake beekeeping in the Legal Reserve.
21. In the Valmir Mota Settlement, there are three sub-areas, formerly the ranches called: 1) Texas, 2) Santa Helena and 3) São Francisco.
1) The part that was formerly the Texas Ranch is crossed by a temporary stream. Land use on part of this property changed to native and planted pastures, including buffelgrass (Cenchrus ciliares L.) of the Aridus variety. According to the classification of soils and topography, most of the area is considered improper for annual crops. Clearing for traditional agriculture is limited and if practiced needs to adopt conservation measures to maintain soil structure and conditions for crops. Thus this area, in category 4, is proposed for landscape management primarily for Multiple Use Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) for forestry and grazing purposes and Multiple Use SFM for apiculture, including the Legal Reserve.

2) In the sub-area that was the Santa Helena Ranch, about 50% of the soils are classified as fit for annual crops, principally in the less steep areas, although soil conservation practices should be adopted. The rest of the area has limitations for annual crops and should be used for agroforestry, other perennial crops or provision of fodder. Therefore, this area, in category 4, could be used to implement landscape management including:

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  Multiple Use SFM for forestry and grazing purposes;
  
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  Multiple Use SFM for apiculture, including Legal Reserves;
  
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  Traditional rain-fed agriculture or new agroforestry systems.
  

3) In the sub area that was the São Francisco Ranch, the type of land use is the same as on the former Texas Ranch, with possibilities to practice traditional agriculture, provided that soil conservation practices are adopted. Thus, in addition to the recommendations already made​​, the suggestions are:

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  Integrated Multiple Use SLM/SFM over 330 ha integrated with the activities of grazing of native vegetation, and fallow for two years before unrestricted access to grazing.
  
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  Beekeeping (apiculture) in the areas of Legal Reserve, totaling approximately 180 ha. with about 100 hives.
  
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  Meliponiculture (native bees) in the areas of Legal Reserve and remaining vegetation near settler houses and water reservoirs (up to 100 hives).
  
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  Peridomiciliary agroforestry with all the families in the settlement that are interested and available.
  
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  Ecoefficient stoves in the residences that show interest, along with workshops to raise awareness about management of firewood collection in the neighborhood.
  
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  Soil conservation practices linked to the practice of agriculture and the prevention and reversal of erosion, associated with dry stone dams.