Diagnóstico florístico e relevância da arborização na praça Afrânio Ramos Braga (Acauã), Maceió‐AL

Abstract

Urban forestry plays a central role in environmental quality and social well-being, offering ecological, recreational, and psychological benefits. Given their importance, this study aimed to assess the floristic composition of Afr‚nio Ramos Braga Square, located in the Acau, complex in the Cidade Universit·ria neighborhood of MaceiÛ, Alagoas, and to evaluate users' perceptions of green spaces, providing insights into sustainable management and the appreciation of native species in urban squares. To this end, field visits were conducted, with the identification of tree species through photographic records, along with the technical assistance of the person responsible for the Ceca-Ufal herbarium. Semi-structured questionnaires were administered to 30 visitors and residents of the surrounding area. The data obtained were imported into Excel, allowing the generation of graphs using descriptive statistics techniques. Nine tree species distributed across seven botanical families were identified, with the exotic Mangifera indica L. and Ficus benjamina L. predominating, demonstrating the need for management focused on valuing native Atlantic Forest species. The results of the social survey indicated that 83.3% of respondents consider squares to be very important, attributing social (90%), environmental (36.7%), and cultural (20%) values to them. Among the main problems identified are lack of security (35.3%), presence of trash (21.6%), and neglect by public authorities (17.7%). It is concluded that Afr‚nio Ramos Braga Square plays a relevant role in social integration and promoting environmental quality, although it lacks maintenance and adequate vegetation planning. The study reinforces the importance of public policies and community actions aimed at sustainable urban afforestation, highlighting the role of squares as instruments of environmental education and promotion of collective well-being.