Unidades demonstrativas de restauração ecológica através de técnicas nucleadoras: Floresta Estacional Semidecidual, Cerrado e Restinga

Ecological Restoration Demonstrative Units using Nucleation Techniques: Seasonal Semidecidual Forest, Brazilian Savanna and Coastal Plain Vegetation To remake ecosystems of artificial form represents a challenge to initiate a process of the possible most similar succession to the natural processes. The environmental recuperation has based on the model of traditional forestry, standing trees under 3 x 2 m spacing, in total area, with high implantation/ maintenance inputs, and generating forests developed in height, however with low diversity of forms of life and regeneration. Restoration nucleation techniques form microhabitats in nuclei propitious for the arrival of a series of species of all the life forms that in a process of sucessional acceleration, radiate diversity for all the area. The techniques had been implanted in pilot areas of one hectare, called "Demonstrative Units" (UDs). The UDs had been mounted in seasonal semidecidual forest (Capão Bonito-SP), Brazilian savanna (Santa Rita do Passa Quatro-SP) and coastal plain vegetation (Florianópolis-SC). In the first UD, with one year of age, the nucleation techniques had introduced 1,603 seedlings of 148 native species, amongst 84 arboreal species (883 seedlings), 12 shrubs (124 seedlings), 30 herbaceous ones (242 seedlings), 20 lianas (260 seedlings) and 2 bromelias (3 seedlings), in addition to 94 seedlings of indeterminate habit. Among the species, 69 zoochore, 32 autochore and 29 anemochore had occurred, plus 21 indetermined plants. Disrespecting the 47 arboreal species implanted by traditional seedlings, there was introduction of: 25% of arboreal, 8% of shrubs, 20% of herbaceous, 14% of lianas and 1% of bromelias. In Brazilian savanna UD, although affected by cattle when two years of age, 354 individuals of 31 native species had been introduced. Of these, 39% had been arboreal species, 13% shrubs, 16% herbaceous, 16% lianas and 16% indetermined. There had been registered 35% of zoochore species, 29% of anemochore, 19% of autochore and 16% of plants with indetermined syndrome. In coastal plain vegetation UD, in two years and half of age, 180 species of 108 genus and 55 families had been detected. The nucleating techniques had resulted cheaper in an esteemed experimental cost around 34% in relation to the traditional model that varies around R$ 5,500.00 reais/ha. The use of the nucleation clearly increased the efficiency of the ecological restoration. The diversity not only restituted its structural aspect, but also the different niches, forms and functions, forming an environment mosaic and allowing a dynamic growth of the communities. In the current period of knowledge, is important the definition of which paradigm we wish for the restoration of our forests: to cultivate plantations of native trees or to allow and to speed up the natural succession? The new paradigm of the nucleation techniques, in contrast to the traditional models of recovery that only satisfy legal requirements, replenishes the producers, consumers and decompositors, promoting the conservation of the ecosystems, and adopting an ethical commitment with the future generations. Key-words: Nucleation; Natural succession; Interspecific interactions; Damaged areas; seasonal semidecidual forest; Cerrado; Restinga