Global Importance 
The traditional erva-mate agroforestry system represents a globally significant model of sustainable forest management and cultural continuity. Rooted in Indigenous Peoples’s knowledge and practiced for over five centuries, it contributes to biodiversity conservation, climate regulation, and the restoration of native ecosystems within the Atlantic Forest—one of the planet’s most endangered biodiversity hotspots. In a region heavily impacted by deforestation, where only 1% of the original Araucaria Forest remains, this system offers a rare example of agricultural practices that preserve forest cover while supporting livelihoods and cultural heritage. It aligns with the SDGs and global commitments to ecosystem restoration and climate resilience. 

Food and Livelihood Security The erva-mate system is a cornerstone of food security and income for rural and forest-dependent communities. Families cultivate not only erva-mate, but also corn, beans, cassava, vegetables, and native fruits, ensuring seasonal food availability and dietary diversity. Livestock and agroecological gardens complement household nutrition. The processing and commercialization of erva-mate, particularly through cooperatives and solidarity markets, offers dignified rural employment and connects producers to regional and national value chains. These systems also empower local communities—especially women and youth—by promoting self-reliance, autonomy, and generational renewal in rural territories. 

Agrobiodiversity 
Cultivated within remnants of the Atlantic Forest, this system maintains a rich mosaic of native trees, shrubs, and understory crops. Over 100 plant species coexist with erva-mate, enhancing habitat complexity and ecological functions such as pollination and nutrient cycling. Many producers intentionally conserve native fruit trees, medicinal plants, and fodder species, supporting both ecological functions and human use. These agroecosystems also preserve wild relatives of cultivated species and genetic diversity within erva-mate populations, offering adaptive potential in the face of climate change and emerging pests. Traditional management methods—such as manual pruning, organic inputs, and selective enrichment—maintain this biodiversity while keeping the forest canopy intact. 

Local and Traditional Knowledge Systems 
The erva-mate tradition is part of a dynamic and intergenerational knowledge system shaped by Indigenous Peoples and traditional forest communities. Forest management is guided by centuries-old practices such as selective pruning, seedling propagation, and natural regeneration. Families manage the forest not just as a source of income, but as a living space requiring care, observation, and reciprocity. Knowledge about forest cycles, plant succession, and ecological balance is transmitted through daily work, seasonal rituals, and storytelling. These practices help maintain soil health, prevent overharvesting, and protect biodiversity. Community-run nurseries, seed exchanges, and cooperation with local schools and agroecological networks support the adaptation and preservation of this knowledge in a changing climate. 

Cultures, Value Systems, and Social Organizations 
Erva-mate cultivation is inseparable from the cultural identity and daily life of southern Brazilian communities. The act of sharing chimarrão or tereré is a gesture of welcome, conversation, and collective memory. Stories, songs, and rituals are tied to the forest and its cycles, reinforcing a worldview that values reciprocity with nature. The social organization of production reflects solidarity and cooperation, especially through women-led initiatives, collective nurseries, and community-run processing units. Local regulations, customary norms (regras de uso coletivo), and participatory governance structures ensure equitable access to forest resources and uphold principles of ecological justice and intergenerational responsibility. 

Landscapes and Waterscapes Features 
The erva-mate system shapes a unique agroforestry landscape composed of native forest remnants, cultivated forest understories, and diversified smallholder plots. These mosaics maintain ecological corridors critical for the movement of species and the regeneration of forest structure. The Araucaria Forest biome, home to endemic and threatened species, benefits from the conservation role played by these systems. In addition, agroforestry buffers protect water springs, regulate microclimates, and improve soil retention in sloped terrains. By maintaining vegetation cover and supporting reforestation, the erva-mate landscape enhances watershed health and climate resilience at both local and regional levels.