SUCCESSIONAL STAGES OF SANTA CATARINA ATLANTIC SUBTROPICAL EVERGREEN RAINFOREST: A NEW CLASSIFICATION PROPOSAL

Abstract

In Santa Catarina State, forest classification in successional stages is supported by the National Council of the Environment (CONAMA) Resolution. However, this classification presents several inconsistencies. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of three classifications schemes of successional stages proposed for the Subtropical Atlantic Evergreen Rainforest of the Santa Catarina State. All schemes are based on threshold values of mean height, mean diameter at breast height, and basal area to distinguish between stages. We used structural and diversity data from 207 sample plots within the Santa Catarina’s State Subtropical Rainforest region to classify the respective stands according to the schemes. The performance of each scheme was evaluated through the classification accuracy provided by linear discriminant analysis (LDA). Additionally, we constructed a predictive equation using the results of the LDA, from the scheme that presented highest classification accuracy. The current classification (CONAMA Resolution) showed an average of 89.33% of classification accuracy, while Scenario A presented 90.67% and Scenario B 85.33%. From Scenario A, we created a predictive equation based on structural and diversity variables. This equation may be used to classify other forest sites, constituting a new proposal for the secondary vegetation classification in Santa Catarina’s State Subtropical Rainforest.