Uso de jardins na composição da Mata Ciliar do Riacho das Piabas, no município de Campina Grande – PB.

Abstract

Unplanned urbanization intensifies socio-environmental conflicts, particularly due to the lack of adequate sanitation systems, resulting in the direct discharge of domestic effluents into water bodies. The Piabas Stream, located within the urban perimeter of Campina Grande, Paraíba (Brazil), exemplifies this scenario, presenting segments with different degrees of anthropogenic intervention, all impacted by the continuous input of untreated sewage, solid waste disposal, and suppression of riparian vegetation. Given the need to provide support for future revegetation projects along the margins of this water body, this study proposes the implementation of a garden in the natural channel section of the Piabas Stream to evaluate the adaptation and development capacity of different plant species (native and exotic) along the vertical profile of the stream bank. The experiment was designed to measure plant growth parameters at different elevation levels of the riparian slope through an Experimental Garden. The species identified in the surrounding area and used in the experiment included Agave angustifolia, Talinum fruticosum, Dracaena reflexa, and Canna indica, in addition to the exotic species Tradescantia pallida, Tradescantia spathacea, and Guzmania hybrida. The methodology comprised: (i) water quality assessment; (ii) identification of plant species with potential adaptation to local stream conditions; (iii) comparison of species adaptation to the environmental conditions of the water body; and (iv) application of questionnaires to assess environmental perception within the community. The garden was monitored over two consecutive quarters. The first period (May to July 2025) evaluated the species that developed during the initial three months. The second period (August to October 2025) retested three species that did not survive the first stage of the experiment due to external factors unrelated to natural conditions (T. pallida, T. spathacea, and T. fruticosum), with the latter showing resistance during the second stage. The results indicated a Water Quality Index classified as very poor in all samples due to the absence of dissolved oxygen, suggesting high contamination by effluents. Analyses revealed variations in the percentage development of the evaluated species. G. hybrida and C. indica showed overall positive growth. A. angustifolia presented varied responses among individuals, while D. reflexa exhibited negative variations, especially in the individual farthest from the watercourse. T. spathacea and T. pallida showed predominantly negative results, with no statistically significant relationship with precipitation. Individual species analysis allowed the identification of the most favorable position for each monitored plant group. Regarding environmental understanding, a high level of environmental awareness was verified among the interviewed group.