The importance of riparian forests in the maintenence of biotic and abiotic resources and the advanced state of degradation of these ecosystems justify the development of restoration techniques on a large scale. In this study six native arboreal species were selected, and the survival of each was compared in relation to their distance from the river, through two restoration techniques: the seedlings plantation method and direct sowing. The germination potential estimates in laboratory (potential germination) and field, and the relative growth rates (RGR) of seedlings, in nursery, were used as elective criteria, and were correlated to survival data in the field. The survival was estimated after six months of plantation of 108 seedlings per species, and from direct sowing of 10800 seeds/species in a 5400 m² lodged area of the Mearin River riparian forest. By the method of seedling plantation, Triplaris surinamensis Cham., Anadenanthera Macrocarpa (Benth.) Brenam. and Tabebuia sp. stood out, the first with high potential germination rates, growth in the nursery and survival in the field, and the other species by one or another of these criteria. In this method, survival was not correlated to RGR, and was not affected by the distance from the river. By the method of direct sowing, T. surinamensis, and Enterolobium contortisiliquum (Vell.) Morong. stood out with high survival, and which was highest in the areas most distant from the river, and was correlated positively to germination in the field, and to RGR. Comparatively, T. surinamensis and E. contortisiliquum were best indicated for reforestation by direct sowing, while A. macrocarpam, Tabebuia sp., and Senna spectabilis (DC.) Irwin et Barn. were best by seedling plantation.
Riparian forest recovery; Species selection; Seedling plantation; Direct sowing; survival
