Tool adds use value to the ecological restoration of riparian forests in the Cerrado

Scientists from Embrapa Cerrados (DF), Universidades de Brasília (UnB), and Federal de Goiás (UFG) have developed a tool for the selection of native species aimed at ecological restoration, which also values economic and socio-cultural aspects. Called Restoration and Use Potential (PRU), the instrument combines ecological parameters with the multiple uses of the species. Tests carried out in a riparian forest area in the Cerrado showed that more than 70% of the 93 species evaluated have medium or high PRU — and that some, previously little considered due to low ecological potential, may gain space thanks to the high potential for use. Riparian forests are the forest strips along watercourses. In addition to being seed dispersal corridors, they provide various ecosystem services, such as nutrient cycling, climate regulation, erosion control, provision of raw materials, and food production. They are protected by environmental legislation as Permanent Preservation Areas (APPs) and ...