In Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil, there are few fragments of Araucaria Forest in its natural state, which reinforces the importance of studying these sites in order to understand its dynamics and relationship with the surrounding environment. The aim of this study was to characterize the growth and biomass accumulation of an Araucaria Forest remnant, located in the National Forest of Passo Fundo (FLONA). The experiment was conducted in the municipality of Mato Castelhano, RS, using the method of fixed area. A group of ten plots measuring 30 x 30 m (900 m²), totaling 9,000 m2, installed in October 2009 were used in the study. All trees with diameter at breast height (DBH) greater than 0.1 m were identified. In the years 2009, 2010 and 2012, tagged trees were counted and measured. Biomass vegetation was estimated based on the diameters of the trees. A total of 402 individuals were sampled (447 trees ha-1). The average tree diameter was 0.270 m. The basal area of remaining trees were 35.58, 36.19 and 37.47 m² ha-1, for the years 2009, 2010 and 2012, respectively. The basal area observed for the period of 2010-2012 corresponded to an increase of 217 % compared to the amount of biomass observed in 2009-2010. The trees in the FLONA of Passo Fundo have increased the diameter over time, resulting in an increase in biomass accumulation.
Diameter at breast height; Basal area; National Forest of Passo Fundo
