摘要:
In Brazil, the National System of Conservation Units addresses the commitments arising from the country's signature and ratification of the Convention on Biological Diversity. This study evaluates the effectiveness of two protected areas (Conservation Units) in Brazil through the analysis of mangrove forest structure data. Structural and functional characteristics of mangrove forests are primarily governed by the interaction of environmental characteristics that act in global, regional and local scales. However, in areas submitted to strong influence of human activities disturbance should be considered seriously. Structural measurements were taken in 43 plots at the Guapimirim Environmental Protection Area and the Guanabara Ecological Station. The main structural characteristics of these forests are: mean diameter at breast height ((DBH) over bar): from 3.6 to 12.3 cm; mean height: from 2.7 to 11.6 m maximum height: from 6.5 to 16.7 m. live basal area: from 8.5 to 24.8 m(2).ha(-1) and higher than 15 m(2).ha(-1) at 26 plots; relative basal area of trunks with DBH higher than 10 cm: above 50% at 28 plots and above 40% at 37 plots. The forests studied presented higher structural development than the mangrove areas Outside these protected areas reflecting a lower anthropogenic influence. On the other hand, when compared with other mangrove forests from the same segment of the Brazilian coast we noted that this development was not the optimum. The maintenance of these protected areas associated with better management strategies is very relevant to prevent the extinction of the remaining mangrove forests of the Guanabara Bay.
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