OCCURRENCE OF BRACATINGA (Mimosa scabrella BENTH.) IN BRACATINGA TRADITIONAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (BRACATINGAIS) AND SECONDARY FORESTS IN SANTA CATARINA STATE PLATEAU

Mimosa scabrella (Mimosa scabrella Benth.) is a multiple use forest species, typical from a mixed ombrophilous forest, asscociate to Atlantic forest biome. The objective of this study was to compare structure, vegetal diversity and occurrence of Mimosa scabrella among managed Mimosa scabrella woods and forest formations. Forest inventories were conducted in 45 plots (400-m(2) plots), at different ages, and 40 secondary forest areas at different stages of natural succession (200 m(2) plots). The results show that there are different patterns in the demographic structure of Mimosa scabrella and species diversity between the bracatingais and secondary forests, particularly in the early years of both communities development. The significant difference in those patterns characterize the bracatingais as managed landscapes, which are strongly dependent on human action for its formation and maintanance.