Census of Tree Counting of the Central University Campus UFRN, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte

Abstract

With a growing proportion of the population living in urban areas, there is a need for strategies that soften the landscape contrast between urban and rural environments. It is common for university campuses to have wooded areas, with the aim of improving the quality of their surroundings and offering opportunities for learning and academic research. The composition of tree planting on campuses can follow the planning pattern of surrounding areas with a predominance of planted exotics or even contain elements of native vegetation. The aim of this study was to record the flora of the Central University Campus of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN) and assess its composition of native and exotic species. A total of 3,833 trees were analyzed on the campus, revealing the replication of a pattern observed in urban public spaces in the city of Natal, with a predominance of alien species.