A semeadura aérea na Serra do Mar em Cubatão

Abstract

Due to the neces.sity to revegetate extensive areas on the coastal mountain region (Serra do Mar) degraded by the atmospheric pollution from the industrial complex in Cubatão, São Paulo, a model of revegetalion based on the natural secondary succession of the areas covered by the Atlantic brush (Mata Atlântica) was developed. Àmong the pioneer species, also of the secondary succession, which occurs in the Cubatão area, 39 atmospheric pollution resistam species, belonging to he herbaceous, arbustive and arboreal stratuns and adapted to the differem habitats existant on the site, were selected. Studies on the dispersion, gennination an establishment of sprouts in the field and in the laboratory, demonstrated that these specics are well-suited to the aereial seeding revegetation. Because of the reduced seed weight (less than l mg) and in arder to promote aerial seeding which is more efficient an covers a broader area in that uneven topography possible, a method of making seed pellets using hydrophlic gel was developed to optimize the protection, gennination and fixation in the soil of the sprouts. During the months of frebruary and april, 1989, 15 square kilometers of the Serra do Mar were seeded using helicopcers and agricultura! airplanes wich 750 million of seeds. A seeding of 45 square kilomerters has been planned for the 1989/90 rainy season.