REGENERAÇÃO NATURAL EM SUB-BOSQUE DE Corymbia citriodora NO NOROESTE DO ESTADO DO PARANÁ

Natural regeneration in understory of Corymbia citr iodora plantation, in north-west of Parana state, Brazil. Natural regeneration in eucalyptus stands, as well as forest plantations that combine eucalyptus and native species, have been monitored in rural areas in the north-west of Parana State, Brazil. Such for est systems involving eucalyptus represent an alternati ve for forest recovery and regeneration in areas de graded by livestock and intensive agriculture. Furthermore , such plantations offer new economic opportunities for landowners while providing incentives for their compliance with environmental regulations for saving a minimum amount of forested land (Reserva Legal). This study aims to understand the potential of natura l vegetation recovery in the understory of Corymbia citriodora stands, due to the context of current environment and land use in the region. Thus, it ev aluates floristic composition and vegetation struct ure in the understory re-growth within such plantation sta nds, in Sao Pedro do Parana (Parana State). As resu lt, it identified 53 species from natural regeneration at a density of 4725 plants per hectare. Such plants, identified at the species level, were organized acc ordingly to their ecological group and/or potential uses. The observed structural parameters pointed to a hig h potential for natural regeneration and growth of vegetation in the understory of C. citriodora , which reveals that, with appropriated management, these species could be used to make native restoration ve getation easer in the region.