Enriquecimento assistido em fragmentos florestais na região Centro-Sul de Mato Grosso do Sul

Abstract

Brazil has a rich diversity of plant species, including semi-deciduous seasonal forests. These forests, which have a long dry period and high-quality soil, are being fragmented due to human use. The intensification of agriculture, especially in Mato Grosso do Sul, is destroying forest habitats and reducing environmental quality. Anthropogenic impacts are affecting the biodiversity of these forest fragments, often leading to a lack of dispersing agents and preventing forest succession. To combat these impacts, assisted enrichment techniques are being used to increase species diversity. These techniques include planting seedlings and direct sowing. Planting seedlings is often used to enrich forest environments and has been applied in various contexts in Brazil and internationally. Direct seeding is valued for its low cost and the adaptation of the species to the environment. The conservation and restoration of semi-deciduous seasonal forests in Brazil are significant challenges, but techniques such as assisted enrichment offer hope for the rehabilitation of these important habitats. The literature presents sowing and planting seedlings as effective techniques for enriching seasonal forests. Seeding has been used in several studies, including the use of lianas and a variety of species to enrich already reforested areas. A consortium between the two techniques is recommended to increase efficiency and establishment of individuals in the area. The relationship between techniques is explored in the literature, searching for the technique that offers the best results for different tree species and correlating the costs and efficiency of the techniques. This dissertation sought to test the efficiency of these forest enrichment techniques in Mato Grosso do Sul, applying direct sowing and planting seedlings with different species in two fragments of semi-deciduous seasonal forests in the Center-South region of the state.