Aprendendo com as plantas: florística e Educação Ambiental da comunidade arbórea do IFPI-Campus Uruçuí

Abstract

Urban tree planting is essential for environmental balance, thermal comfort, and biodiversity conservation, especially within educational institutions. This study aimed to conduct a floristic survey of the tree vegetation in the urbanized areas of IFPI – Uruçuí Campus and to develop an educational booklet with morphological and phenological information on the most representative species, focusing on environmental education. The methodology involved a full census of tree individuals, botanical identification based on specialized literature, and analysis of phytosociological parameters (density, dominance, and IVI), along with species origin and ecological functions. A total of 34 species from 18 families were recorded, with Bignoniaceae, Fabaceae, and Myrtaceae being the most prominent. Of the total, 64.71% are native to Brazil, mainly from the Cerrado biome. Licania tomentosa Benth. was the most abundant species, while Azadirachta indica A. Juss., an exotic and invasive species, showed high density. The campus vegetation is strongly influenced by species associated with human use, with a predominance of exotics and low diversity in some areas, highlighting the need for management strategies that prioritize floristic diversity and promote native species. As a final product, the digital booklet “Learning with Plants: Trees of IFPI – Uruçuí Campus” was created and widely disseminated, integrating science, environmental education, and sustainability within the school context