Abstract The objective of this study was to evaluate plant cover and dry mass produced by green manures and their influence on the chemical attributes of soil for the ecological restoration of an area around bauxite mine environment in Southeast Brazil. Soil preparation, chemical fertilization and sowing of three species of green manures were carried out: Cajanus cajan, Crotalaria juncea and Stylosanthes guianensis. In general, C. cajan and C. juncea showed the best performance in plant cover. C. cajan and S. guianensis produced more phytomass. Green manures were efficient to promote rapid plant cover and increase in soil organic matter and total-N contents in all treatments. Therefore, green manure is a viable alternative that contributes to the success of ecological restoration projects in areas in the bauxite mining environment.

Abstract The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of filter cake biochar on the chemical and microbiological attributes of a dystrophic red-yellow latosol cultivated with macaúba (Acrocomia aculeata), araçá (Psidium firmum) and cajuzinho do cerrado (Anacardium humile), species native to the Cerrado. Thus, the responses of soil attributes were evaluated 120 days after transplanting the seedlings using four doses of biochar (1%, 2%, 4% and 8% v/v) and two control treatments (one with soil correction and fertilization and the other with no fertilization). The attributes evaluated were pH, contents of calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, CTC, total and microbial organic carbon and nitrogen, and C:N ratio. For the soils cultivated with the three Cerrado species, the 1% dose of biochar and mineral fertilization were the treatments that best conditioned the soil during the cultivation period and promoted a better response of the chemical and microbiological attributes of the soil.

Abstract The cocoa cabruca is as an agroforestry system with a density of trees equal to or greater than twenty individuals of native species per hectare cultivated in association with native or exotic trees in a discontinuous and random way in the Atlantic Forest biome.It is difficult to separate areas of cabruca cacao from the Dense Ombrophilous Forest by existing satellite imaging techniques.The study was developed in the southern region of Bahia, on two properties in the municipalities of Ilhéus and Uruçuca.The image processing methodology involved the Agisoft Photoscan software, with the multiresolution algorithm, the analysis of digital image data was performed to extract the objects and with the Feature Space Optimization tool, the set of variables that presented the best separation between land use classes.The use of UAVs was effective in classifying the mapped areas, and its use was proposed as an auxiliary tool in the application of the Decree.

Abstract The rising popularity of various types of wood panels and the advances in manufacturing technology have increased the uses of wood. The bonding of fibers and particles to form panels, however, involves impregnation with resins, such as phenolic adhesives, which delivery desirable quality to the panels due to their insolubility in water, resistance against heat among others, but are also recognized as carcinogenic to humans (IARC, 2004). This study involved measuring the levels of formaldehyde, remaining in wood panels after use and disposal. It was initially evaluated new panels and then examined degraded ones. The results demonstrated significant volatilization of formaldehyde during the degradation process of the panels, with losses of 74.83% for MDF and 85.71% for medium density particleboards (MDP). The results demonstrated significant volatilization of formaldehyde during the degradation process of the panels, with losses of 74.83% for MDF and 85.71% for medium density particleboards (MDP).

Abstract This work aimed to evaluate the energy quality of wood and charcoal obtained from the stem and root of the genus Eucalyptus spp. From the wood, the physical, chemical and energetic properties were evaluated. For the charcoal produced in ovens of the carbonization furnaces model in the industry and produced in a muffle furnace, the physical, chemical and energetic properties were evaluated. Based on the analysis of technological properties, wood from the root has higher basic density (731.45 kg m-3) and lignin content (26.44%), however, the fixed carbon content and higher calorific value of the root (17.54% and 4547.75 kcal kg-1) were lower than for the stem wood (21.36% and 4730.82 kcal kg-1). It is recommended to use the wood from the root, both for direct burning and for the production of charcoal. The charcoal obtained in the industry, compared to that produced in muffle, presented higher energy quality.

Abstract Vascular epiphytes contribute significantly to the biodiversity of tropical forests. We aimed to identify the epiphyte species occurring in the Muriqui Trail at Serra do Brigadeiro State Park (SBSP), a priority area for Atlantic forest conservation in southeastern Brazil. We selected 10 phorophytes, from which we sampled epiphytes and took light intensity measurements at three strata: up to 4 m, 4 to 8 m, and above 8 m. Phorophytes represented eight species, eight genera, and six families. We found 25 epiphytic species from 17 genera and nine families. Ferns showed highest richness, especially Polypodiaceae. We report herein important data on epiphyte diversity in eastern Minas Gerais state (Zona da Mata), including the occurrence of species rarely cited in surveys. Fomenting local conservation along with environmental education may be pivotal for counteracting anthropic pressure on SBSP.

Abstract Conservation units are specially protected territorial spaces whose primary goals are to preserve biodiversity and natural resources. Thus, this paper aims to investigate the spatial-temporal dynamics of land-use and land-cover classes and hotspots in a conservation unit in the Caatinga region. We assessed land-use and land-cover classes based on Mapbiomas’s data from 2002 to 2021. Then, we analyzed the hot spots made available by Programa Queimadas database, for the rainy and dry seasons, as well as data recorded on a yearly basis between 2002 and 2021. The class of agricultural activities in the buffer zone has increased; changes in the hotspots’ distribution pattern were observed, such as displacement from the Park’s central area towards the buffer zone’s. Furthermore, 12 hotspots tended to increase in the dry season, over the 20-year assessment process. Insights into the growth of agriculture and changing hotspot patterns assist in creating more effective conservation strategies.

Abstract Rich freshwater biodiversity is threatened by increasing deforestation and disorderly urbanization throughout the Brazilian Amazon, especially in streams and creeks, leading to loss of aquatic habitats. Biological information combined with habitat and water quality are effective tools for rapid assessment. The impact of increasing urbanization was assessed in the Cereja River, eastern Amazonia using a Riparian Habitat Diversity Index (RHDI), benthic macroinvertebrate structure and water and sediment variables in ten areas along the Cereja using multivariate analyzes. Increasing urbanization is associated with lower RHDI, abundance, diversity and equity of benthic macroinvertebrates, higher conductivity, pH, temperature, width and percentage gravel. This information is useful for rapid identification of impacts, assessment of recovery of degraded areas and maintenance of non-degraded areas along urban streams.

Abstract Experimental trials were conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of mulching with carnauba bagana, a by-product of wax extraction from Copernicia prunifera leaves, on the establishment of 32 shrub and tree species in the Caatinga region. The evaluations were made in areas degraded by mining and embankment of piçarra. Treated plants received 10 L of carnauba mulch in the crown of planted seedlings, while control plants received no mulch. After 24 months, mulching of carnauba improved the growth or survival of eight of the 32 species, while worsening that of two species. Specifically, mulching increased (p<0.05) the survival of Pseudobombax marginatum and Peltophorum dubium, and the height and canopy area of Anadenanthera colubrina, Bauhinia cheilantha, Copernicia prunifera, Hymenaea courbaril, Mimosa caesalpiniifolia and Senna spectabilis. The results demonstrate that the carnauba-based mulch can be directed to the species that responded positively, with the goal of improving establishment and growth in degraded areas of the region.

Abstract The degradation of wood caused by termite infestations is widely recognized as a substantial concern. Therefore, the development of alternative, environmentally-friendly preservation of wood is needed to reduce environmental pollution. The study aimed to analyze the chemical properties of vinegar from medang wood (Cinnamomum sp.) and assess its effectiveness as a termicidal activity against Coptotermes curvignathus. Wood vinegar is made by the pyrolysis method. Pyrolysis is carried out by inserting of air-dried medang wood particles into a pyrolysis reactor and was heated up to the desired temperature of 370, 400, 430°C with the pyrolysis time was 180 minutes. Wood vinegars were tested at various concentrations (2.0-10.0%, v/v) against C. curvignathus in a no-choice test. Result shows that an 8% concentration was required to achieve 100% mortality against C. curvignathus at a 430°C pyrolysis temperature. The lowest mass loss of treated filter paper, 11.99%, was obtained with a 430°C - 10.0% combination.

Abstract Acrocarpus fraxinifolius stands out due to its uses in the timber industry and rapid growth. However, information is scarce regarding its fertilization. We aim to understand how soil preparation and phosphorus doses affect A. fraxinifolius initial development. The experimental design used was a randomized block design in a 2 x 5 factorial scheme, consisting of two types of soil tillage (minimum and conventional) and five doses of phosphorus (P) (0, 50, 100, 150, and 200 g of simple superphosphate) with four replications, and plots formed by two plants. The measurement occurs at 30 and 210 days after planting, assessing the height and diameter at the stem height. Initially, the minimum tillage provided had a higher average height and diameter. However, conventional tillage, acidity correction, and fertilization with 108 g of simple superphosphate per plant resulted in Acrocarpus fraxinifolius plants with better growth at 210 days after planting.

Abstract Phenological information contribute to silvicultural actions and conservation strategies. Here, we carried out the phenological monitoring of six tree species that were prominent in the structure of an open ombrophilous forest fragment in northeastern Brazil. Over two years, among September 2015 and August 2017, eight individuals of each species (48 trees in total) were visited every two weeks to record the reproductive and leaf phenophases, following the Fournier intensity scale. We calculated the intraspecific synchrony of the phenophases and the correlation of the phenophases of each species with meteorological variables (temperature, air precipitation and photoperiod). The species showed synchronous characteristics for the phenophases. Precipitation stood out in terms of a higher frequency of significant relationships with the reproductive phenophases. The results indicates that the end of the dry season is the most favorable period for seed collection and the monitoring of dispersers in this type of tropical forest.

Abstract The Brazilian Code ABNT NBR 7190 (1997) is currently under review process and one of the proposals is the change and add of some test procedures. Several specimen geometric configurations and test conditions have been evaluated by the study committee CE-02:126.10. The aim of this paper was the analysis of the tensile strength perpendicular to the grain through the current Brazilian Code and from an adaptation of ISO 13910 (2005). Pine and Indian Cedar were used and simplified relationships were proposed. Numerical simulations were performed to identify the stress distributions in the specimens. The results obtained by ISO 13910 (2005) did not differ statistically for the two species. Brazilian standard method cedar had a higher strength value than pine. The simplified ratios obtained ranged between 0,017 and 0,123. The numerical simulations of ISO 13910 (2005) specimens showed predominant failure by tension in the lower fiber due to stress concentration.

Abstract Forest burning susceptibility mapping is a tool to mitigate wildfires, with several methods to develop them. This study aimed to compare the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), Multiple Linear Regression (MLR), and Random Forest (RF) methods for mapping. Several variables were used to generate the maps. For MLR and RF methods, fire frequency between 1990 and 2010 was used as the response variable in the models. To validate the methods (AHP, MLR and RF), fire data between 2011 and 2018 were used in four stages. RF was the best method employed. Correct and incorrect values for this method were 74% and 26% and AUC 0.66. The sensitivity and specificity for the highest risk class were 31% and 96%. The low sensitivity values can be attributed to the randomness attributed to anthropic fire. The high specificity values point to a good separation of the higher risk class compared to the others.

Abstract The development of vegetative propagation programs of Araucaria angustifolia still lacks on information about genetic factor that may influence on its success. We aimed to evaluate how mother tree sex and provenance influence on grafting success. So, we collected orthotropic branches from 26 mother trees male and female, of a clonal garden established from matrices from different provenances, and carried out an experiment using a patch grafting technique. Grafting survival, number and length of shoots did not differ between mother tree sex and provenance. The absence of significant variations between mother trees and no correlation with sex or provenance indicates that the morphological characteristics of rootstocks and shoots, and environmental conditions after grafting may have more influence on the success of grafting.