Telling the Wood from the Trees: Ranking a Tree Species List to Aid Urban Afforestation in the Amazon

The vast Amazonian biome still poses challenges for botanists seeking to know and recognize its plant diversity. Brazilian northern cities are expanding fast, without considering the regional biodiversity, urban plantings of almost exclusively exotic species taking place. It is paramount that correct identity such trees ascertained before procurement seeds young plants, as use popular names may lead importation material from elsewhere, with potential introduction invasive species. abundant local diversity also leads need score most suitable within a given region. Following preparation authoritatively named floristic lists in Southeastern Pará state, we proceeded rank planning using different characteristics size, ornamental value, ecologic role, resilience known methods propagation. From an initial 375 list, 263 were ranked according their suitability street area visualized Venn diagram. A final list 49 highest-ranking was further analysed regarding pollination phenology period two types dissimilarity analyses provided aid practitioners matching choosing groups Different vegetation mean similar must be used extract cohorts plants increase richness eight states included biome.