Open AccessThis work aimed at identifying and quantifying colonizer species and structure in gravel mining degraded environment and to identify species for restoration. It was selected three sites characterized as: site 1 (S1), place with less intense history of use; site 2 (S2), intermediary level of degradation; and site 3 (S3), with higher degradation. Within the three sites it was withdrawn 20 plots of 25 m². Within each plot, species with height ≥ 0.10 m and DNS ≤ 5.0 cm were sampled. It was calculated Shannon’s diversity (H’), Pielou’s equability (J’), Jaccard’s and Czekanowski’s similarity indices, as well as the phytosociology parameters, besides the analysis of indicator species. Thirty-two species and 15 families were registered. S1 was the most species-rich, with the highest density, while S2 presented the lowest richness and density. The sites showed low floristic and structural similarity and statistical differences regarding density, (it was found 844, 270 and 497 individuals in, sites A1, A2 and A3, respectively). Diversity varied from 1,680 to 2,074 nats.individual-1. Probably, these divergences are due to the environment variations imposed by the different degradation intensities.