Tree species used in urban forestry in Brazil: a scientometric review

Abstract

We conducted a scientometric review based on urban floristic inventories published in Brazilian scientific journals between 2000 and 2020 to determine the diversity and conservation status of trees used in urban forestry in Brazil. The floristic inventories were divided according to five Brazilian geographic regions. Tree species were divided into native and exotic species. We identified 71 floristic inventories of urban forestry, most of which were concentrated in the South and Southeast regions. In total, 473 species and 125 botanical families were identified. The largest number of species and families was found in the Southeast region, but most species/inventories were found in the North and Central-West regions. The ratio of native to exotic tree species was approximately 1:1; however, when the five most commonly used species were analyzed, the ratio of native to exotic species was less than 0.6, regardless of the geographic region. Regarding vulnerability, most of the species included in this study were not assessed for threat (86%), whereas only 1.7% of the species were vulnerable and 1% were endangered. We emphasize the urgent need to increase the number of tree species included in the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria in urban forestry programs in Brazil.