Arborização pública na zona de amortecimento do Parque Estadual da Serra da Tiririca - Niterói/Maricá - Rio de Janeiro – Brasil

Urban afforestation includes both natural and cultivated tree vegetation from city, with its implementation being carried out through afforestation plans. This document designates suitable species for the urban environment, emphasizing the importance of scientific basis to prioritize native flora. This study evaluated the urban afforestation plans of the municipalities of Niterói and Maricá, Rio de Janeiro, categorizing species as recommended/suitable or unsuitable for urban afforestation. Additionally, a case study was conducted to understand which species compose the Buffer Zone of the Serra da Tiririca State Park (PESET), and to address the issue of using exotic species in the vicinity of this Conservation Unit (UC). The afforestation plans were analyzed for species richness, origin, and dispersal method of recommended species. Unsuitable species were identified along with the reasons for their non-use. The study focused on the Buffer Zone of PESET, up to 700 meters from the UC boundary, covering 65 kilometers and selecting 14 areas to assess the presence of exotic plants in urban afforestation. Species were recorded and photographed, encompassing not only trees but also other forms of life.