Forest restoration of mined bauxite areas: it is necessary the use of exotic grasses for initial soil cover?

Author(s)

Vanessa de Souza Moreno

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: Piracicaba.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALA/BC)
• Defense date: 2015-01-22

Examining board members

Pedro Henrique Santin Brancalion; Vera Lex Engel; Sergius Gandolfi

• Advisor: Pedro Henrique Santin Brancalion

Abstract

Mining profoundly alters natural ecosystems and, although the recovery of these areas is required by law, it is still a major technical challenge. Generally, recovery strategies involve the distribution of surface forest soil, planting of exotic grasses to cover the ground and the planting of exotic and/or native trees. However, the sowing of exotic grasses may restrict native species regeneration, therefore, context specific diagnosis must be carried out to determine the actual need of using such technique. In this context, the aim of this study was to evaluate whether the use of exotic grasses for initial soil covering in the recovery of tropical forests in areas of bauxite mining is necessary, as well as if the restored community has potential to return to the pre-disturbance conditions. Therefore, we use a case study of recovery of bauxite exploration in the Atlantic Forest region of Brazil in Pocos de Caldas, Minas Gerais, where chronosequences of two methods of restoration of bauxite mines were compared - restoration without exotic grasses (Rs) and forest restoration with exotic grasses (Rc) - taking up stretches of native forest ecosystem as a reference. We collected data on tree community structure (grass cover, canopy cover, basal area, and density of individuals CBH ≥3.1 cm and height ≥ 130 cm (1 class) and density of individuals DAP < 3.1 cm and height ≥ 50 cm (class 2) and composition (richness, diversity, evenness and richness and percentage of species by dispersion syndrome). The successional path was analyzed by linear regression. In class 1, the method of forest restoration without exotic grasses (Rs) achieved better results than Rc in key parameters for forest establishment, such as exotic grass cover, canopy cover, richness and diversity. The Rs method also had similar results to Rc in several parameters, despite being represented by younger communities. Both methods showed trends toward the parameters values found in reference ecosystem, but Rs method, if it remain the current way, can reach these values more quickly, which reduces maintenance costs and management. Such evidence shows that the use of exotic grasses for initial covering of mined areas is not necessary in projects aimed at forest restoration of mining areas, as these hinder the restoration of forest dynamics. Additionally, we proved to be possible to recover the bauxite mined areas with more ambitious ecological goals, aiming at the return of pre-disturbance conditions. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 12/22840-8 - Forest restoration of bauxite mined sites: is it necessary to plant exotic grasses for initial soil recovery?
• Grantee: Vanessa de Souza Moreno
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master