ARBOREAL FLORA AND VEGETATION MAPPING IN THE SURROUNDINGS OF THE ALTO RIBEIRA TOURIST STATE PARK, RIBEIRA VALLEY, SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL

Abstract

The Paranapiacaba ecological continuum is one of the best-preserved areas of the Atlantic Forest in Brazil, as it shelters more than 575,000 ha of protected areas, including the Alto Ribeira Tourist State Park (PETAR). From January 2012 to February 2013, surveys were carried out in four areas in the vicinity of PETAR, to characterize and evaluate the degree of preservation of the existing vegetation, in addition to mapping the vegetation cover, aiming at incorporation into the park or the creation of new conservation units. Thus, in the tree flora of the areas studied, 384 species were surveyed, from 67 families and 172 genera. The most species-rich families were Myrtaceae with 82 species, Fabaceae (37), Lauraceae (32), Melastomataceae (20), Rubiaceae (19), Euphorbiaceae and Sapindaceae (10 species each). The genera with the highest richness were Eugenia with 30 species, Myrcia (27), Ocotea (15), Miconia (10), Inga (nine species), Leandra and Myrceugenia (eight species each), Monteverdia (seven species), Solanum and Symplocos (six species each). Thirty-three endangered species were identified, with Myrtaceae, with 12 species, being the family with the highest number of threatened species. The vegetation mapping showed the predominance of the Dense Montane Ombrophilous Forest, representing 93.06% (18,364.56 ha), in addition to the restricted occurrence of the Altomontana Dense Ombrophilous Forest and the Mixed Ombrophilous Forest. This work also surveyed 93 species that had not previously been recorded in PETAR. Such results show the importance of these areas, not only because of the richness of species they have, but also because they form natural ecological corridors in the PETAR buffer zone, which requires attention and efforts for its protection.