Levantamento de espécies arbóreas utilizadas na arborização de praças no centro da cidade de Bacabal, Maranhão

Abstract

Public spaces are fundamental in defiance of the misfortune urbanization brings to the biome. Provides, in a positive way, for the quality of life of all living things, helps control ecological functions, and offers time off and shelter. Research on tree species gives support for the implementation of more appropriate urban management focused on the region’s ecology, through analysis of urban particularities and the interaction of trees with the environment. With the objective of evaluating the tree species used in some of the main public squares in the city of Bacabal, Maranhão, the research used quantitative and qualitative methods to inventory trees in 9 public squares. For this, the number of trees, their common and scientific names were collected, checking the biology and general situation of the surrounding area, seeking to identify if the chosen species is appropriate for the site, displaying whether the urban planning was adapted for proper performance of ecological and structural functions. As a result, the study showed a predominance of exotic species in the square’s vegetation, with non-native species approaching more then half of the total, with the most frequently specie being Azadirachta indica A. Juss, and in some squares, only exotic species were identified. In some instances, the landscaping relied on a single species. Hereby, this study contributes to potential strategies in the development of more aware urban afforestation, taking into account the choice of species that contribute to increasing local biodiversity.