Public Policies Applied for Forest Seed Analysis for Ecological Restoration Areas in São Paulo State.

• Grant number: 23/10129-2
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Research in Public Policies
• Start date: July 01, 2025
• End date: June 30, 2028
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Forestry Resources and Forestry Engineering
• Principal Investigator: Fatima Conceição Márquez Piña-Rodrigues
• Grantee: Fatima Conceição Márquez Piña-Rodrigues
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias para a Sustentabilidade (CCTS). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). Sorocaba , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Fabrícia Cristina dos Reis ; Jaime Felipe Medina Sotomayor ; Juliana Müller Freire ; Miguel Luiz Menezes Freitas

Abstract

Testing forest seeds quality is essential to promote the ecological restoration of degraded areas. Since 2004, public policies in execution have been identified as restrictive regarding the demand for forest seeds, especially in relation to the evaluation of seed quality. Regulations and instructions do not suit the ecological characteristics of species that have a long-term germination, high variability between and within lots due to local adaptations, essential to maintain the resilience. The procedures are based on productive systems of cultivated ND genetic modified species, which differs from wild seeds. Moreover, a legislation sometimes does not consider the diversity of species required in restoration and the complexity of its production system. This means that the time of quality tests and the ideal period for sowing are not compatible. Indirectly, the producer sometimes has to choose between attend the legislation, sending samples for analysis or carrying out the commercialization. With the aim of contributing to the adequacy of this public policy on forest seeds, it is intended to develop and improve rapid and validated methods for assessing the quality of species used in restoration, prioritizing those that do not have defined analysis methodologies. For this, there is a need to review the legal frameworks and, in particular, the current test instructions and their compatibility with the demands of the restoration sector. Seed suppliers, including community seed networks, will be interviewed to understand the difficulties related to forest seeds tests legislation and the carrying out of a survey of the species used in restoration, focusing on the State of São Paulo. From a systematic literature review and research with public agencies and in the production chain, the species used in projects will be identified. All data obtained will be systematized for review of normative instructions and inclusion of information in the Seed Map of the Technical Committee on Forest Seeds (CTSF). Groups and social networks made up of specialists in the area will be invited to meetings to promote discussion and guide the proposals. For the development of rapid tests, the validation of the tetrazolium test will be carried out to determine the viability of seeds of forest species. For method validation, the research group will verify whether the methodology is reproducible and repeatable with the participation of at least six laboratories. The Laboratory of Forest Seeds and Seedlings (LASEM/UFSCAR) will support the scientific research to analyze the database of methodologies for testing forest seeds and the tetrazolium test of the species. Thus, the project's research will be based on database analysis, evaluation and innovation. The CTSF of the Brazilian Association of Seed Technologies will be the Associated Institution and will provide support to the scientific project and will participate in the discussion of public policies, training of professionals and dissemination of results. The Coordenadoria de Assistência Técnica Integral (CATI) is part of the São Paulo State Secretariat for Agriculture and Supply (SAA/SP) and operates in the environmental adequacy of farms, seed and seedling production, and public policies for biodiversity and sustainable rural development . The manager from the Partner Institution is assigned to the Laboratory of Seeds and Seedlings (LSM) of CATI, accredited by MAPA to carry out tests of 277 forest species seeds. LSM will be responsible for organizing the validation of the tetrazolium test, for the practical part of adapting the tests, training analysts and improving public policy for forest seeds tests.. (AU)