Diagnóstico quali-quantitativo da arborização do Parque do Atalaia no município de Escada-PE

Abstract

The accelerated and disorderly growth of cities, followed by irregular land occupations, caused the replacement of urban vegetation by buildings and road structures, making it difficult for cities to plan properly and causing a series of problems, such as soil sealing, temperature increase loss of biodiversity and increased noise pollution. Urban afforestation comprises the afforestation of streets and public and private green areas. The parks are inseted in public green areas and are considered public spaces for leisure and recreation for the city's population, providing many benefits, such as psychological well-being, physical contact with nature and the practice of physical activity. Thus, the research aims to evaluate the afforestation of Parque do Atalaia in Escada-PE, with the aim of creating a database that will serve as a subsidy for the management of the urban forest. The study was carried out at Parque do Atalaia, which is located in the center of the city of Escada-PE. A census inventory of all species with CBH (circumference at breast height) ≥ 15 cm was carried out. The dendrometric data were measured: total height, crown diameter, CBH, DBH (diameter at breast height), crown area and basal area. From these data, the morphometric indices were calculated: Degree of Slenderness, Salience Index, and Coverage Index. Spatial indices of shading, tree cover and tree density index were determined. The Shannon-Wiener diversity indices, the Pielou evenness index and the Simpson diversity index were analyzed. As for the phytosociological parameters, absolute density, relative density, absolute dominance, relative dominance, absolute coverage value, relative coverage value, absolute importance value and relative importance value were determined. Regarding the qualitative aspects, the plant health of individual trees, the general condition, vandalism, stem morphology (tortuosity/inclination), evaluation of the first bifurcation, root system condition, pruning condition and conflicts were evaluated. The species Inga edulis, Handroanthus sp. and Senna siamea together make up 56.78% of the Park's tree cover, where only 36.84% of the species found were classified as native to the Brazilian flora. A worrying value was observed in the spatial indices, on the other hand, most arboreal individuals are in good physical and phytosanitary conditions. Conflicts between afforestation and the electricity network were not relevant and the greatest damages observed resulted from pruning and vandalism. Essentially, the adoption of measures to introduce other species was suggested, prioritizing native species, to promote diversity and balance the frequency of species that already exist in the Park, increasing thermal comfort and contributing to aesthetic and ecological improvement, thus avoiding the loss of municipal arboreal heritage.