Conservation value of arboreal individuals and management zones in urban remnant of Template Mixed Forest: a methodological proposal

The deforestation of urban forest remnants has stimulated the debate among perspectives associated with the value of the property and the right of ownership and its inherent value for conservation and social function. To make objective the analysis and valuation of the ecological component we propose a methodology scientifically based on GIS environment to assist decision-makers at different times of a real estate development: i) in architectural planning and site design; ii) in landscaping as a strategy of conservation and environmental compensation; iii) in the process of environmental licensing and definition of environmental compensation; iv) building and construction site; and, if necessary, v) in the judicial process. The model was structured through indicators and indexes of ecological relevance (DAP and height, frequency, regional threat status to the species, preferential succession stage, presence and abundance of epiphytes, fruiting, and landscape value) and analysis of the spatial distribution of these attributes. As a reference for the adequacy of the model, the result expressed in Management Zones after IDW interpolation was compatible with the analysis of the distribution and quality of the forest remnant interpreted in a time series of about 40 years based on current image interpretation and of 1980 and 2004 ones. This demonstrates the feasibility of the model as an objective reference of the relative importance of each tree, species, and association in areas with distinct relevance.