Traditional forest restoration (FR) monitoring methods employ spreadsheets and photos taken at the ground level. Since remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) generate a panoramic high resolution and georeferenced view of the entire area of interest, this technology has high potential to improve the traditional FR monitoring methods. This study evaluates how low-cost RPA data may contribute to FR monitoring of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest by the automatic remote measurement of Tree Density, Tree Height, Vegetation Cover (area covered by trees), and Grass Infestation. The point cloud data was processed to map the Tree Density, Tree Height, and Vegetation Cover parameters. The orthomosaic was used for a Random Forest classification that considered trees and grasses as a single land cover class. The Grass Infestation parameter was mapped by the difference between this land cover class (which considered trees and grasses) and the Vegetation Cover results (obtained by the point cloud data processing). Tree Density, Vegetation Cover, and Grass Infestation parameters presented F_scores of 0.92, 0.85, and 0.64, respectively. Tree Height accuracy was indicated by the Error Percentage considering the traditional fieldwork and the RPA results. The Error Percentage was equal to 0.13 and was considered accurate because it estimated a 13% shorter height for trees that averaged 1.93 m tall. Thus, this study showed that the FR structural parameters were accurately measured by the low-cost RPA, a technology that contributes to FR monitoring. Despite accurately measuring the structural parameters, this study reinforced the challenge of measuring the Biodiversity parameter via remote sensing because the classification of tree species was not possible. After all, the Brazilian Atlantic Forest is a biodiversity hotspot, and thus different species have similar spectral responses in the visible spectrum and similar geometric forms. Therefore, until improved automatic classification methods become available for tree species, traditional fieldwork remains necessary for a complete FR monitoring diagnostic.

There are several techniques for the control and removal of invasive species that can be applied, and there is a demand among restoration practitioners for plant control methods. This study compared two methods for the control of jackfruit tree: mechanical method of trunk girdling and chemical method of herbicide injection into the trunk. It was evaluated both methods in terms of effectiveness in 10 plots (80 × 80 m). For the chemical method, triclopyr in concentrations of 2%, 6% and 8% was used. The progress of treatments was evaluated accordingly for the phytosanitary conditions. Method of trunk girdling proved to be ineffective and it had a low mortality rate (12%). The proportion of dead trees by chemical treatment was 100%. The results showed that chemical control of jackfruit trees was much faster and more effective.

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Environmental offsetting is a compensation for a deforested or degraded area usually in the form of forest recovery. We provide an update on the ongoing regulatory standards (RS) regarding ecological restoration in Brazil, analyzing the existence of monitoring protocols. The introduction of Environmental Rural Registry (CAR) created by law in 2012 has become the main driver of local RS. The aim of CAR is to guarantee forest cover on rural properties by the force of RS, but it lacks to consider the vegetation structure, functionality, and quality of the vegetation. Currently only four states in Brazil uses a protocol that includes ecological criteria as a measurement of success. The existence of a specific legislation for forest restoration may enhance restoration effectiveness by clarifying the restoration process and regulations to those stakeholders involved in implementing restoration projects.  It is necessary for RS to include diverse technical approaches, providing the opportunity for solutions contemplating local possibilities and conditions.

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This study evaluated forest restoration projects filed at the state environmental agency of Rio de Janeiro (Inea), regarding the requirements contained in the Resolution Nº 36/2011. Legal, technical, environmental and ecological parameters of 65 restoration projects in the design and implementation phases were analyzed. Only 29% of the projects met the requirements of Resolution Nº 36/2011. The low compliance with the requirements of the resolution evidences the lack of knowledge of the current regulations in the state of Rio de Janeiro by the technical users of the system. This condition implies a longer time of environmental licensing. Recently, Inea has revoked Res. Nº 36/2011 through Res. Nº 143/2017, which, in addition to simplifying the presentation of restoration projects, gave rise to the State System for Monitoring and Evaluation of Forest Restoration -SEMAR.

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