Cycle 1 (2007-2011)
Inventory of Forest Remnants
Number of recorded plant species
Considering the sample-based forest inventory, the extra floristic survey, and the epiphyte survey, 2,175 species of vascular plants from 179 families and 797 genera were recorded: 19 lycophytes, 258 ferns, three gymnosperms, and 1,895 angiosperms. From this number, 1,352 species were recorded in the extra floristic survey, which was carried in the sample plots' surroundings and access tracks.
The IFFSC recorded 823 woody species in the sample plots, considering individuals with DBH ≥ 10 cm and with DBH < 10 cm (understory and natural regeneration). The species belong to 104 botanical families.
Tree/shrub species richness found in SC's main vegetation types.
For more information: Read the chapter on the Santa Catarina's flora from the IFFSC's Books
Most abundant tree and shrub species
After the tree fern Dicksonia sellowiana, the 'canela-guaicá' (Ocotea puberula) was the most abundant species in SC.
Ocotea puberula, popularly known as 'canela-guaicá', was the most abundant tree species in Santa Catarina. This species is common in all forest types; it is found mainly in secondary forests.
Diameter distribution of 'canela-guaicá' (Ocotea puberula).
Ten most abundant tree species in Santa Catarina (n = 440; DBH ≥ 10 cm).
The most abundant species in each forest type in Santa Catarina (n = 440; DBH ≥ 10 cm).
The tree ferns Dicksonia sellowiana ('xaxim-bugio') and Alsophila setosa ('samambaiaçú') should be mentioned: both were more abundant than the tree species mentioned above – the former with 6,074 sampled individuals, and the latter with 3,000 sampled individuals.
Species that once had great abundance, such as Ocotea catharinensis ('canela-preta') in the Evergreen Rainforest and Apuleia leiocarpa in the Semi-deciduous Forest, did not appear among the most abundant ones, probably due to the intense logging conducted in Santa Catarina in the last century. These species are listed among the endangered ones.
Red List of threatened species in Santa Catarina – (Resolution No. 51/2014 CONSEMA)
'xaxim-bugio' (Dicksonia sellowiana): the most abundant tree fern in the Araucaria Forest.
'canela-preta' (Ocotea catharinensis): Critically Endangered
'palmiteiro' (Euterpe edulis): the most abundant palm in the Evergreen Rainforest
For more information: Read the chapter on the structure of SC remnants from the IFFSC's Books.
Trees in the early stages of succession
Araucaria angustifolia was the most abundant species in early stages of succession in Santa Catarina.
Trees in these stages or phases of succession are those found outside the areas classified as forest in the available maps used at the beginning of the IFFSC in 2007 (SAR, 2005/2008; PPMA, 2008).
We identified 220 trees species in early stages areas. The 'pinheiro-brasileiro' (Araucaria angustifolia), 'bracatinga' (Mimosa scabrella), and 'erva-mate' (Ilex paraguariensis) were the most abundant species, corresponding to 15% of the total number of individuals sampled in these areas.
'bracatinga' (Mimosa scabrella) and 'pinheiro-brasileiro' (Araucaria angustifolia) in the background.
For more information: Read the chapter on assessment of areas outside the forest (early stage vegetation and other land uses), from the IFFSC's book.
Exotic species
Considering all the IFFSC's surveys (i.e., forest inventory inside forest plots, trees outside the forest, and extra floristic survey), 102 exotic species were recorded.
The genera Eucalyptus, Pinus and Citrus are noteworthy regarding tree abundance.
About 45% of the exotic species are herbaceous. Of the 102 species, only 12 were found in the sample plots; this means that only these species were surely recorded inside the forest fragments. All the others were in the fragments' edge or in the sample plots' access tracks.
In general, the exotic species recorded in the sample plots showed small abundance, with exception of Hovenia dulcis ('uva-do-japão') that showed considerable abundance mainly in the Semi-deciduous Forest. Indeed, it was among the 15 most important species found in this forest type. In one of the sample plots measured in the Semi-deciduous Forest, 106 individuals of Hovenia dulcis were measured.
For more information: Read the chapter on exotic species from the IFFSC's book.
Hovenia dulcis ('uva-do-japão'). The photo at the bottom was taken by Paulo Schwirkowski, Flora Digital.
Epiphyte diversity
Vascular epiphytes represent 23% of the species registered by the IFFSC.
The IFFSC recorded 491 species of epiphytes: 126 ferns and lycophytes, and 365 angiosperms. The families with greater richness were Orchidaceae (180 species), Bromeliaceae (69), and Polypodiaceae (43). Eight species are listed as threatened or rare. The greatest species richness was found in the state's north (Itajaí-açú, Cubatão, and Itapocú river basins); this finding suggests that the region is a potential hotspot of vascular epiphytes. The great richness found in these areas is associated with great air humidity and forest conservation status.
Two new species were described based on these collections: a bromeliad and an orchid. The bromeliad was named Vriesea Ruben J.Gomes-da-Silva & A.F.Costa; it is considered endemic of Santa Catarina – i.e., it only occurs in the state. The species was described based on a sample collected in the municipality of Orleans; afterwards, it was collected in the municipalities of São Martinho and Antônio Carlos. The name of species comes from the red color of its bracts.
The orchid was named Campylocentrum schlechterianum E.Pessoa & M.Alves, a tribute to Rudolf Schlechter, a German botanist who described several species of the genus Campylocentrum in the early 20th century. In Brazil, this species was collected only in the municipalities of São Martinho (SC) and Barra do Turvo (SP).
Discoveries:
New species for science!
Bromeliad: Vriesea rubens
Orchid: Campylocentrum schlechterianum
For more information: Read the chapter on epiphytes survey from the IFFSC's Books.
Fern diversity
The IFFSC recorded 324 species of ferns; Dicksonia sellowiana was the most abundant tree fern species.
There is a great diversity of ferns and lycophytes in Santa Catarina (SC); they are popularly known as avencas or xaxins. These plants may grow on others, on rocks, on the ground, or even in water; 442 species are known to SC. The IFFSC recorded 324 species, representing 73% of the total number of species known to the state.
The families with the greatest richness were Polypodiaceae (48), Pteridaceae (42), and Dryopteridaceae (38); 18 new species for Santa Catarina were found.
The greatest species richness was found in the Evergreen Rainforest – 288 species, of which 128 occurred only in this forest type; 177 species were found in the Araucaria Forest (30 exclusive), and 57 species in the Semi-deciduous Forest (three exclusive).
The most abundant species in the Araucaria Forest was Dicksonia sellowiana ('xaxim-bugio'). The genera Cyathea and Alsophila were very common in the Evergreen Rainforest, specially in the understory.
Cohort of Dicksonia sellowiana ('xaxim-bugio') in the Araucaria Forest.
For more information, read the following papers:
Growing stocks
Forests' stocks are the result of organic matter production through photosynthesis. Some of the biomass may be converted into timber and non-timber products with economic, social, or environmental value, both at the local and national levels.
It is estimated that the estate's native forests have ~309 mi m³ of stem volume.
It is estimated that, on average, SC has 85.1 m³ of stem wood (DBH ≥ 10 cm) per hectare, summing to 309 million m³ of stem wood. Wood stocks were estimated through allometric models fitted based on trees measured in the field.
It is estimated that SC has about 184 million tons of carbon stored above ground in its native forests.
The stocks presented here were calculated through biomass allometric models and conversion factors). Only the aerial biomass of living trees was considered. The estimated total aboveground biomass was 367 million tons and the estimated total dead wood was ~39 million tons. The estimated total aboveground carbon in living trees is 184 million tons.
For more information, read the following paper:
Insights from a large-scale inventory in the Southern Brazilian Atlantic Forest
Evidences of human activities
Human activities were observed in 94% of the sample plots. Logging was the most frequent activity (80%).
After logging, the most frequent activity was cattle grazing and roads (49%), followed by presence of tracks made by large animals (37%). Exploitation of non-timber products, such as palm-hearts and erva-mate tea leaves, were less frequent (14%); exotic species, evidences of hunting and fire were found in 13%, 7%, 3% of the sample plots, respectively.
Indiscriminate exploitation of Euterpe edulis palm-heart in the Evergreen Rainforest is alarming, as well as the conversion of the Araucaria Forest stands into pastures. Pasture was the most observed land use at the sample plots' surroundings.
For more information, read the following papers:
Forests' Successional Stages
About 97% of Santa Catarina's forests are secondary, i.e., they are a result of secondary succession.
42% of the sampled forest stands were in advanced successional stage, 53% in intermediate successional stage, and 2% in initial successional stage.
Approximately 3% were classified as primary forests due to their great species and structural diversity.
Forest in initial successional stage
Forest in intermediate successional stage
Forest in advanced successional stage
For more information: Read the chapters on the forests' successional stages from the IFFSC's Books.
Genetic Diversity
In general, the genetic diversity analyzes of the 13 species showed an increased level of breeding between close relatives. In technical terms, this phenomenon is called inbreeding. Thus, as generations pass by, genetic variability may decrease, and the species' abilities to go through new environmental scenarios may also decrease.
The effects of forest fragmentation, exploitation and defaunation are the main drivers of genetic diversity loss. However, in some sites, there are still populations with considerable levels of genetic diversity. In these sites, collection of seeds with greater genetic diversity to produce seedlings could be conducted.
For more information:
Read the chapter on Genetic Survey in Cycle 1, from the IFFSC's Books.
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Socio-environmental Survey
85% of the interviewees reported that they use products collected in native forests.
777 rural residents were interviewed, of which 66% were men and 34% were women, aged between 15 and 91 years; most interviewees had more than 40 years.
The interviewees mentioned 379 plant species that they may use (328 species were properly identified); 20% of the interviewees related that their family may use more than ten different species.
Number of citations, number of native species used by the 777 interviewees, and percentage of users in each use category.
General aspects
Highlights:
Plants used for food were cited 1,748 times;
The greatest number of species per use class was related to medicinal purposes, followed by use for firewood.
Most used species
'Araucaria' and 'guabiroba' are the most used tree species cited by interviewees in Santa Catarina.
Araucaria seeds (pinhões) and the fruits of 'guabiroba' are eaten by humans, as well as by domestic and wild animals.
* The 'cipó-mil-homens' was often mentioned as a medicinal plant; however, its use is not recommended by physicians.
Uses for wood
Firewood and fence posts are the main timber products used by interviewees in rural areas of Santa Catarina.
From all interviewees, 56% said they had used wood products extracted from forests. About 176 species were cited; 95 native species had been used for sawn wood, laminated wood, fence posts, among others; 170 species had been used for energy purposes, mainly as firewood. Commercial use was not common among the interviewees; it was limited to the sale of firewood (5% of the interviewees).
The most used species were: 'angico' (Parapiptadenia rigida), 'tarumã' (Vitex megapotamica), 'jacatirão' (Miconia cinnamomifolia), 'araucária' (Araucaria angustifolia), 'imbuia' (Ocotea porosa), and 'bracatinga' (Mimosa scabrella).
Main forest wood products used in rural areas of Santa Catarina.
The beautiful reddish wood of Hyeronima alcorneoides, popularly known as 'licurana'.
Photo: Heitor F. Uller
Non-wood uses
Food was the most common non-wood use of plant species. Pinhões (seeds of Araucaria angustifolia), various fruits and erva-mate were the most used products.
Among all non-wood uses, 274 species were cited. However, only the 'pinhões' (seeds) of Araucaria angustifolia and 'erva-mate' (Ilex paraguariensis) tea leaves have economic and social expression. For this reason, these are the only species with fairly organized production chains.
Food uses
87 species were cited for food use.
The use of 'pinhões' (cited by 27% of the interviewees), 'guabiroba' fruit (Campomanesia xanthocarpa; 24%), and 'pitanga' fruit (Eugenia uniflora; 21%) were most cited. Were cited also the 'cereja' (cherry) (Eugenia involucrata; 16%), 'araticum' (Annona spp.; 15%), 'erva-mate' (Ilex paraguariensis; 11%), and 'jabuticaba' (Plinia peruviana; 10%).
Pinhões: they are eaten in SC's rural communities.
Medicinal uses
Medicinal use of native species was reported by 53% of the interviewees.
'Cipó-mil-homens' (Aristolochia triangularis) (cited by 24% of the interviewees), 'espinehira-santa' (Maytenus ilicifolia; (16%), 'pau-amargo' (Picrasma crenata; 6%), 'macela-do-campo' (Achyrocline satureioides; 6%), and 'carqueja' (Baccharis spp.; 5%) were the most cited species for medicinal purposes. The widespread medicinal use of 'cipó-mil-homens' in Santa Catarina is really an issue, given that this species is tumorogenic and abortive (Mengue et al., 2001).
Maytenus ilicifolia (espinheira-santa): the utmost used tree specie for medicinal use
Photo: Juliano Pörsch, Flora Digital
Ornamental uses
For ornamental use and handicraft production, the most cited native species were 'xaxim-bugio' (Dicksonia sellowiana) (mainly in SC's plateau and in the region of the municipality of Florianópolis), orchids (mainly in Vale do Itajaí and SC's west), 'butiá' (Butia spp.) (mainly in SC's west and north), and bromeliads (Vale do Itajaí and Florianópolis).
Orchid (Pleurothallis grobyi)
Planted Forests
70% of the interviewees have planted forests. The genus Eucalyptus is the most planted one (53%).
After Eucalyptus, the main planted genus was Pinus (24%), as well as Hovenia dulcis ('uva-do-japão') (8%); others species, such as Araucaria angustifolia, Euterpe edulis, and Archontophoenix spp., were planted to a lesser extent. The main forest product extracted from planted forests was wood for energy (37%) and for sawmill/industry (27%).
The main goal of planting forests cited by owners of planted forest was "to obtain forest products" (45%), and the second most cited one was to keep the forest as monetary saving for the future, as they called it "green savings" (16%).
The interviewees who did not own any planted forests stated that the main reasons they did not plant were the small size of their property (46%) and the preference for other business activities (10%).
For more information:
Read the chapter on Socio-environmental Survey in Cycle 1, from the IFFSC's Books.