Aliens in Rio Branco, Acre: ornamental plants in the landscaping of the Universidade Federal do Acre

Abstract

When planning a landscaping project, several factors become crucial to consider. The selection of plants, unquestionably, constitutes one of the most critical and fundamental stages in this process. With the aim of preventing environmental issues, it is of paramount importance to avoid the use of exotic plant species. In the urban contexts of cities in the Brazilian Amazon region, there is an observable predominance of exotic species at the expense of native ones. In this context, this research aims to conduct a survey and identification of ornamental plant species at the Universiade Federal do Acre. The research location encompasses the planned green areas on the university campus in Rio Branco. The species survey involved the photographic recording of plants, along with their identification and classification. A total of 124 species were identified, spanning 47 botanical families. Remarkably, only 38 species belong to the native flora of the Amazon, representing 31% of the total, while 86 species are classified as exotic, accounting for 60%. The analysis of landscaping at UFAC reveals a concerning reality, characterized by the significant predominance of exotic species, some of which are invasive and poisonous, present in its gardens. There is an urgent need to reassess the practices of selecting plant species in landscaping projects.