Plantas nativas de Cuité e Nova Floresta - PB com potencial ornamental.

Abstract

The use of native species with ornamental potential is a current trend in landscaping. This, in turn, plays a fundamental role in the urban environment, being responsible for providing numerous ecological and social benefits, which

contribute significantly to improving the quality of the environment and the well- being of the population. However, adequate landscape planning has still been

neglected in most Brazilian cities. In this sense, environmental perception helps in understanding the interrelationships between man and the environment, thus contributing to the planning and maintenance of urban landscaping. Based on this context, the objective was to describe the species of the caatinga biome present in the municipality of Cuité-PB, in which aesthetic elements appropriate for landscaping stand out, in addition to carrying out a survey of the floristic diversity of urban afforestation in the municipalities of Nova Floresta and Cuite – PB. Finally, to analyze the environmental perception of the residents about the local afforestation, in order to provide subsidies for the elaboration of future projects in environmental education that contribute to the development of conservation actions aimed at the use of native species of the Caatinga with ornamental potential. To this end, analyzes of data from the UFCG-CES herbarium and field incursions were carried out to identify the species, in which the shape, symmetry, structure, texture and color of the structures of greater ornamental value were analyzed. As for the floristic diversity of urban afforestation in the municipalities of Nova Floresta and Cuité-PB, data obtained through on-site observations of the species and the environmental perception of the residents of the focus cities were made through semi-structured forms, complemented by free interviews. From the analysis, 50 species with enormous ornamental potential for various uses and landscape effects were described. In the survey carried out in urban areas, 372 species were identified, distributed in 16 botanical families. In addition, 30 residents of the focus cities were interviewed. Of these, 63% are men and 37% women, aged between 19 and 80 years. A total of 46.67% of respondents showed to be aware of the meaning and importance of afforestation, 10% highlighted the reduction of heat as the main benefits of afforestation. Part of the interviewees managed to identify the tree(s) planted in front of the residence, however, many are not aware of the origin of the species. Residents indicated native species of the Caatinga for afforestation in the city of Cuité-PB, highlighting Tabebuia impetiginosa Mart. - Ipê - purple, and the Spondias tuberosa Arruda - umbuzeiro, and the fruit species among other exotic plants unsuitable for use in Landscaping. It is concluded that there is a need to encourage the use of native species of the Caatinga Biome in landscape projects, whose potential is still undervalued and the need for Environmental Education projects in the city of Cuité-PB, which aim to inform the population about the benefits of afforestation, focusing on the valorization and conservation of native species of the Caatinga with ornamental potential.