The Floristic and Forest Inventory of Santa Catarina State (IFFSC): methodological and operational aspects

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to contribute to the discussion on regional and national forest inventories, aiming mainly on aspects of methodos and operational. The Floristic and Forest Inventory of Santa Catarina State (IFFSC) is an initiative of the state government and it was conceived in order to attend requirements of environmental laws. A pilot inventory took place in  2005; then the methodology was fitted to the proposal of the National Forest Inventory (IFN-BR) in discussion at the time. IFFSC is carried out since 2007 in all natural forest formations all over the state´s territory, including floristic sampling (collection of fertile trees, shrubs and herbs within the sample unit and in its surroundings) and survey of vascular epiphytes by specialized crews. The inventory applies a systematic sampling, with sample units containing clusters of four crosswise 1,000 m² plots (20 m x 50 m), distributed systematically at the intersections of a 10 km x 10 km grid all over the state´s territory (a 5 km x 5 km grid is applied on highly fragmentized Seasonal Deciduous Forests). Methodological details and some important operational issues are discussed beyond the four years experience of IFFSC. Major sampling intensity and lower diameter and height thresholds (in the arboreal and regeneration strata) than in the nationwide inventory proposal (IFN-BR), as well as the execution of a floristic survey within and around the sample plots, showed to be important to record plant diversity of Santa Catarina´s forests.

doi: 10.4336/2010.pfb.64.291