Processos ecológicos em áreas de restauração florestal na Zona da Mata Sul de Pernambuco

Abstract

Due to the importance of the riparian forests and the degradation scenario in which most of these areas are located, forest restoration is a fundamental tool for the conservation of these ecosystems. To ensure the success of the restoration, the priority must be given to the actions that results in the reestablishment of ecological processes. In this way, the present study had as general objective to evaluate the reestablishment of ecological processes in restored areas on the banks of the Sirinhaém’s river. To accomplish it, two areas under restoration process (RA1 and RA2) and a forest fragment considered as a reference ecosystem (RE) were selected, these areas belong to Trapiche’s farm, located at Sirinhaém’s city- PE. The ecological indicators evaluated were natural regeneration, accumulated litter, edaphic fauna and phytosociological analysis of the woody vegetation. To analyze the woody vegetation, 20 permanent plots of 250 m² each were installed in each area, with subplots of 100 m² to evaluate natural regeneration. For the litter analysis was used a template (25 cm²), so data of height and weight could be collected. Edaphic fauna data were obtained by the collected litter and using the TSBF (Tropical Soil Biology and Fertility Method) methodology, which consists of removing the monoliths of 0.25 x 0.25 m in the depth of 0 to 10 cm and after that all the organisms visible to the naked eye present in the samples of litter and monoliths were collected. Subsequently, the litter and soil were placed in a modified Berlese-Tullgren apparatus, where they were exposed to a light and heat source provided by 25 W lamps for 10 days to obtain organisms invisible to the naked eye. Then the organisms were screened and identified at the level of order. As main results, it was observed that RA1 and RA2 differ between themselves and of the RE in many aspects, mainly in the floristic composition of the arboreal vegetation and the regeneration. For the litter accumulation, RA1 and RA2 were lower than RE, and for edaphic fauna, RA’s had richness and diversity similar to each other and higher than RE. Finally, it was observed that among RAs, RA2 is less developed than RA1, although they are inserted in the same scenario. In view of the obtained results, it was verified that the ecological processes evaluated are still being reestablished in the areas at restoration, slowly and lower than the RE, but their trajectory is leading them to the success of the restoration. To guarantee such result, it is recommended that periodic evaluations of these and other indicators be made.