BENEFÍCIOS DA ARBORIZAÇÃO EM PRAÇAS URBANAS - O CASO DE CUIABÁ/MT

Abstract

The urban forestry contributes directly to the quality of life in cities, benefiting their physical-environmental. Examining the case of two public squares in Cuiaba, Brazil, this study investigated how trees affect the conditions of the microclimate in urban areas. This study aimed to assess the variables that contribute the thermal environment of squares Popular and April 8 and how this influences the use by people analyzing the relationships among the factors involved in this process, mainly through the woody vegetation. This involved measurements of leaf area index (LAI), rates of shading and tree density (ISA and IDA), size and identification of various species. Also, we performed measurements of meteorological variables for 15 continuous days on a rainy dry season and another in 2009. Held parallel to one behavioral assessment verification of the dynamics of use by people. It was observed that the mean air temperature below the canopy was reduced by 0.45 ° C and 0.30 ° C respectively in dry and rainy seasons. By multivariate analysis using clusters of vegetation characteristics, the results indicated dichotomy resulting in a number of areas with high leaf area index and large trees, and another group with less leaf area index, tree size and percentage of shaded area. It was concluded that it is important to add efforts to qualify the environment through public squares better planning and proper methodology in selecting tree species to be adopted.