ISSN 1980-7694 ON-LINE
THE INFLUENCE OF URBAN EVOLUTION ON THE URBAN FORESTION OF ERECHIM, SOUTHERN BRAZIL Michele de Oliveira1, Camila Peretti1, Jean Carlos Budke1, Suzana Cyrino dos Santos1, Thiely Corazza1, Solange Gomes1, Franciele Rosset de Quadros2, Vanderlei Secretti Decian2, Elisabete Maria Zanin2 3
ABSTRACT
The knowledge of how urban afforestation is planned contributes to understanding the way the community interacts with the environment. This understanding is a useful tool to organize and manage urban afforestation. In this sense, this study aimed to address two main issues: how urban afforestation has been conducted in Erechim, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil, and how these factors influenced tree planning. To answer these questions, we analyzed records of the history of Erechim and compared photographs obtained in different locations and times. The first records of photographs related to the urban afforestation at Erechim are from the 1920s. We verified that exotic species predominated from 1920 to 1970. These species had a symmetric and linear design, which reflected the high influence of the afforestation style of European tendencies. After the 1980s, we observe a predominance of local species, currently native species receive a higher value in tree planting projects on the streets Erechim. Key-words: public roads; urban landscape; urban planning.
REFLEXOS DA EVOLUÇÃO URBANA SOBRE A ARBORIZAÇÃO EM ERECHIM, SUL DO BRASIL
RESUMO O conhecimento da maneira pela qual a arborização urbana é planejada contribui para a compreensão da sociedade e de sua relação com o ambiente, sendo fundamental para a organização e manejo eficiente da arborização contemporânea. Em vista disso, o presente trabalho buscou responder a duas questões principais: como a arborização urbana foi conduzida em Erechim, Rio Grande do Sul, ao longo de sua história e quais fatores influenciaram nesta condução. Para responder a estas questões, realizou-se uma revisão bibliográfica da história do município e uma análise de fotografias de diversos pontos da cidade desde a época da colonização até os dias atuais. Os primeiros registros fotográficos relacionados à arborização urbana de Erechim datam da década de 1920. Verificou-se que nas décadas de 1920 a 1970 predominaram o uso de espécies exóticas e de formas simétricas e lineares, com estilo paisagístico fortemente associado à colonização europeia. A partir da década de 1980, verificou-se maior uso de espécies da flora regional, culminando com a maior valorização de espécies nativas no final do período. Palavras-chave: paisagem urbana; planejamento urbano; vias públicas.
1 Laboratório de Sistemática e Ecologia vegetal – ECOSSIS, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, URI – Campus de Erechim. Av. Sete de Setembro 1621, Erechim, RS, Brasil CEP 99700‐000. E‐mail: [email protected] 2 Laboratório de Geoprocessamento e Planejamento Ambiental – LAGEPLAM, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, URI – Campus de Erechim. Av. Sete de Setembro 1621, Erechim, RS, Brasil CEP 99700‐000. 3 recebido em 19.06.2012 e aceito para publicação em 15.06.2013
Soc. Bras. de Arborização Urbana REVSBAU, Piracicaba – SP, v.8, n.2, p 93‐109, 2013 INTRODUCTION
In Brazil, urban afforestation started to be part of In addition to the benefits inherent to afforestation, urban planning at the end of the 20th century the use of native species results in important (MENEGHETTI, 2003), as the republic system was environmental, aesthetic and cultural gains for installed in the country and administrations started cities (MACHADO et al., 2006). Silva & Perelló to be concerned with progress and the rational (2010) and Kabashima et al. (2011) emphasize the organization of the society and the use of urban contribution of native species to maintain regional spaces. For many years, the pattern for urban biodiversity. Native species are better adapted to landscaping in Brazil followed the trends adopted the climatic and soil local conditions and provide in Europe and North America, using exotic species food and shelter to the fauna, contributing to the in tree planting programs. Many species used were preservation of the urban environment ligustro (Ligustrum lucidum W. T. Aiton), (BORTOLETO, 2004; DANTAS e SOUZA, 2004). cinamomo (Melia azedarach L.), plátano (Platanus Urbanization can affect ecological processes of an occidentalis L.) and extremosa (Lagerstroemia area as it modifies the physical and biotic structure indica L.). Several studies show the predominance of the environment, changing the availability of of exotic species over native ones in urban resources offered (BRUN et al., 2007). The use of afforestation in Brazilian cities (ANDRETTA et al., native species also contributes to mitigate the 2011; RUSCHEL and LEITE, 2002; MELO and impact of urbanization processes, promoting the SEVERO, 2010). regional flora and ensuring the availability of In the 1940s, the first signals of changes in the resources to the fauna. Urban afforestation, concept for the use of free spaces in Brazilian cities therefore, plays a very important role in urban start to show. Burle Marx, one the greatest urbanists ecosystems (PIVETTA and SILVA FILHO, 2002). of the 20th century, broke away from the traditional It provides dynamics to the built-up landscape of schools and started a movement to value native cities, allowing improvements of aesthetic and vegetation, which was hitherto disregarded in environmental features and, consequently, quality landscaping projects (BORTOLETO, 2004; SILVA of life resulting in environmental comfort and et al., 2007; MEDEIROS, 2009). After the 1990s, welfare for the urban population (SILVA, 2008; awareness of issues related to environmental PAIVA, 2009). aspects started arose, in part due to the approval of In each moment in history, the occupation and Agenda 21 by the United Nations Conference for evolution processes of societies contribute to the Environment and Development in 1992, which formation of the landscape characteristic. As the highlighted the sustainable construction of cities cultural, social, economic and political processes and biodiversity preservation (MARCONDES, change, the perception of the environment also 1999). The focus was to search for an urban changes. Therefore, urban landscaping, which is a landscaping model that prioritized the use of native result of the interaction between natural elements species in urban afforestation. and anthropogenic activities, does not organize itself at random and is constantly transforming.
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94 Soc. Bras. de Arborização Urbana REVSBAU, Piracicaba – SP, v.8, n.2, p 93‐109, 2013 Afforestation, as part of the urban landscapes, compose the urban environment. In this sense, this follows this evolution (BERTRAND, 2004; study addressed two issues: how urban afforestation FÜNFGELT, 2004; SCHMIDT, 2005). Thus, evolved in the city of Erechim, Rio Grande do Sul understanding the process through which State, Brazil, and the factors that influenced its afforestation develops contributes to learning about evolution. the society and its relation with the elements that
MATERIAL AND METHODS
Study site
The municipality of Erechim is located in the North maximum in January (25.5 ºC). Rains are well of Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil, in the region distributed along the year and the average known as Alto Uruguai, between 27°29’06” to precipitation is 1,912.3 mm.year-1 (BERNARDI 27°47’09” S and 52°08’43” to 52°21’03” W. Its and BUDKE, 2010). average altitude is 768 m and total area 42,585.3 ha, Geologically, the Alto Uruguai region is on basalt- with 5.8% of this total in the urban area zone capping sandstone of Paraná, formed by (ERECHIM, 2011). igneous effusion. The clayey Oxisol predominates, Data from the Meteorological Station of Erechim which is deep and well drained, allowing the for the period between 1976 and 2005, development of large forest formations interspersed characterizes the region as transition between Cfa with grasslands. The region is in the Atlantic forest and Cfb in the Köppen classification. The average biome, in a transition zone between a annual temperature is 17.6 ºC, with the lowest Semideciduous Forest and an Araucaria Forest temperature observed in June (12.7 ºC) and (JARENKOW e BUDKE, 2009).
Method
We carried out a review of historical data of The criteria used in the analysis of photographs Erechim, focusing on the aspects related to urban, were: i) architectonic and landscaping elements and architectonic and landscaping aspects of each their position; ii) the relationship between the period. Although the historical events are well elements and the urban context; iii) changes that documented, there are few reports for afforestation occurred along the time. Whenever possible, we or landscaping projects for the city. Thus, we used also identified the tree species used in the urban the analysis of photographs as the main afforestation. We analyzed nearly 400 photographs investigation method, given that the image is visual from different parts of Erechim since the and does not require mental imagination like the colonization times to present date. The Arquivo written reports (Possamai, 2005). Histórico Municipal Juarez Miguel Illa Font
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95 Soc. Bras. de Arborização Urbana REVSBAU, Piracicaba – SP, v.8, n.2, p 93‐109, 2013 provided the photographs, which were analyzed considered green areas (LIMA, 1994) and not part according to their historical context. of the urban afforestation per se, in this study, they Urban afforestation comprises vegetation cover of were considered as such. tree species related to three inter-correlated factors: Based on the analysis of photographs and criteria public green areas, private green areas and street adopted, we divided the study period into three afforestation (MELLO FILHO, 1985; KIRCHNER times, following the architectonic changes reflected et al., 1990; LORUSSO, 1992). Although squares, on the urban afforestation for each period. gardens, parks and medians of larger size are also
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Before colonization
The Alto Uruguai region was originally covered by leaves went to the Alto Uruguai region to explore large Araucaria Forests (Araucaria angustifolia mate trees in the region. (Bertol.) Kuntze) interspersed by grasslands. For The northern region of Rio Grande do Sul State was many centuries, the Caingangs Indians, who difficult to be inhabited due to the scarps of the practiced agriculture and hunting and collected Serra Geral in the South and the Uruguai River in natural elements, like the jatropha fruit, inhabited the North. The official occupation of the region, these forests. The grasslands in the southern part of encouraged by the state government, started only in the region were dwelled by the Charruas Indians, the 19th century and intensified after the who lived on the hunting and fruits, but they did not Proclamation of the Republic on November 15, practice agriculture (CESE, 1979; SOUZA, 2000). 1889. During the 17th century, pioneer expeditions The delineation of the lands in the Alto Uruguai penetrated the forests that stretched from the region region started in 1904, together with the works to of Mato Português and Castelhano to the borderline implement the railroad São Paulo – Rio Grande. In with what is known today as the Paraná State, this period, an expedition led by Marcelino Ramos through the Passo do Goyo-En, in the Uruguai found the first house in the region, as he was River (PAIVA, 1951). Some pioneers were left delineating the railroad path. He noted down in his behind and established themselves as landowners in notepad the area and designated it as Paiol Grande the region. Later, fugitives from justice and the (ILLA FONT, 1983). Farroupilha (1853-1845) and Federalista (1893- Paiol Grande as described by the engineers and land 1895) revolutions joined the pioneer descendents surveyors in the early 1900s did not even compose and Indian communities (CESE, 1979). These first a village. A few houses were randomly distributed inhabitants lived on subsistence agriculture, mate in the middle of the forest and there was no distinct extraction (Ilex paraguariensis A. St.-Hil.) cattle borderline for the lands. The roads were precarious raising. Occasionally, groups in search for mate and scarce and the most common means of transportation was cattle cars that moved along the
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96 Soc. Bras. de Arborização Urbana REVSBAU, Piracicaba – SP, v.8, n.2, p 93‐109, 2013 tracks opened in the forest. The only vegetation the entire region. cover was the native forest that covered practically
1910s: railroads and colonization
The Erechim colony was created on October 6, planned a rationally organized city, inspired by 1908, following the suggestion of the Carlos Torres characteristics of cities like Washington D.C. Gonçalves, which was his first project as the head (USA), Paris (France) and London (England), with of Directory for Lands and Colonization. Paiol large, long and afforested avenues and linear Grande was to become the first planned city in Rio symmetric streets surrounded by squares. This Grande do Sul State (Figure 1). Influenced by the planning prioritized geometry and uniformity of prevailing urbanistic trends of the 19th and 20th streets and construction and landscape centuries and by positivist ideas, Torres Gonçalves beautification of the city.
Figure 1. Railroad Station of Paiol Grande in 1912, built in the middle of forest remnants.
However, Torres Gonçalves’s plan was concluded The implementation of Torres Gonçalves’s road only in 1914, when a prosperous village had plan caused a change in the landscape. Several already been formed around the railroad station, constructions were displaced, once they had been opened in 1910. The first house preserved the built in spaces allocated for streets and avenues architectonic style of facades and low (PAIVA, 1951; WEBER, 1951). The irregular constructions, typically European. They were made topography made it difficult to implement the of wood, simple and modest, with a typical streets in a symmetric design; therefore, earthworks vegetable garden and an orchard. The streets made and embankment works were carried out in several by the first immigrants were irregular, did not places in the following decades. follow a defined path and showed no concern with The analysis of the photographs allowed to observe afforestation. Trees had to be removed for the the abundance of araucarias (A. angustifolia) in the development of the population; therefore, the forest forests in the region. In the early years of that covered the region was being cut down to give colonization, some of these trees were left behind way to the new constructions. whenever the forest was cut, even near the urban THE INFLUENCE OF URBAN EVOLUTION ON…
97 Soc. Bras. de Arborização Urbana REVSBAU, Piracicaba – SP, v.8, n.2, p 93‐109, 2013 areas, because families used the jatropha fruit as agricultural productivity due to the high soil food source until their crops started to produce. The fertility resulted in an intense economic dynamics. cedar tree (Cedrela fissilis Vell.) was also abundant This condition was reflected in a constant concern and its exploration became of the main economic for the beautification of the city. The wooden activities in the region, once its wood was highly houses became more elaborated with gardens. The appreciated and had high commercial value. first initiatives for urban afforestation started at the In the mid 1910s, the first settlers were relatively end of the 1910s with several road paths afforested well settled. Lumber exploration and high with plátano (P. occidentalis).
1920s: political emancipation
In 1918, the Colony of Erechim obtained political distances in a straight line. The photographs show emancipation. The lumber industry and mate that the seedlings were selected because they exports and agricultural products led Paiol Grande showed similar heights and were mostly of exotic to become one of the most prosperous villages in species. northern Rio Grande do Sul State, and it was The preferred species were plátano (P. occidentalis) chosen as center of the new municipality. With the and ligustro (L. lucidum). Cinamomo (M. emancipation, the village was named “Boa Vista”, azedarach) started to be identified in the and the municipality was given the name Boa Vista photographs at this time; however, it was not used do Erechim in 1922. in the afforestation of the central region of the city. In the 1920s (Figure 2), wooden constructions rich Native species, such as ipê (Tabebuia spp.) and in decoration elements sprung up. On the main jerivá (Syagrus romanzoffiana (Cham.) Glassman) avenue, there was a tendency for a better use of were also identified; however, they were more spaces and constructions were closer to each other common in backyards of houses than in street and near the sidewalks. The trees were planted afforestation. about two meters away from the curb, at equal
Figure 2. Bandeira Square in 1920 showing several glossy privet trees and surrounded by simple unpaved streets with plane trees in an asymmetrical design.
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98 Soc. Bras. de Arborização Urbana REVSBAU, Piracicaba – SP, v.8, n.2, p 93‐109, 2013 The native vegetation continued present in the At the end of the 1920s, some medians were surroundings of the city; however, more permeated afforested with ligustro (L. lucidum). The in clearings. The photographs show the photographs of this period show a practice that later development of the several populations of timbó became a tradition: drastic pruning of tree species at (Ateleia glazioveana Baill.) in many parts of the the winter beginning. Several hypotheses can be city. This species is considered pioneer, aggressive raised; however, none of them explained the reason and characteristics of secondary vegetation (REITZ for this practice. et al., 1983), which justifies its large occurrence in the region.
1930s: great fires and Belle Époque
The 1930s were marked by great changes in the afforestation with ligustros (L. lucidum), and the urban landscape of the central area of the city. In square received flowerbeds and a hedge of Buxus the early years of the decade, the state government sempervirens L. (Figure 3). determined a change to Torres Gonçalves’s original In December 1930, Amintas Maciel was elected plan. The project was signed by Diumier Schneider mayor of Erechim and was determined to give the and Longines Malinowski and presented the idea city a new design, more appropriate for its for a city-garden of Ebenezer Howard, with the development. The Bandeira square was remodeled street design considering the level curves, as the with a double line of cemented paths shaped like most adapted to the local topography. The ellipsis and large sidewalk to delineate its areas, symmetric design was maintained in the central which received light poles with underground wires area (FÜNFGELT, 2004), where we can observe and new afforestation (ILLA FONT, 1983).
Figure 3: Bandeira Square after the renovations implemented during the administration of Mayor Amintas Maciel (1930s).
The landscaping and architectonic renovations were three great fires occurred and destroyed part of the not limited to the square. Between 1931 and 1933, city center. Mayor Amintas Maciel had forbidden
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99 Soc. Bras. de Arborização Urbana REVSBAU, Piracicaba – SP, v.8, n.2, p 93‐109, 2013 the construction and renovation of wooden with nature and perceived the urban environment as buildings in the city center; therefore, the buildings a cultural and intellectual center for the society. were demolished and built in bricks (Figure 4). This emphasis on nature was reflected a constant The new buildings displayed two architectonic concern with the beautification of the streets and styles, both French, however very distinct: Art squares through afforestation. The medians of some Nouveau and Art Decó. Art Nouveau was part of the streets of Erechim were afforested with ligustros (L. movement known as Belle Époque, started in lucidum). This species was largely used in urban France at the end of the 19th century as a reaction to afforestation because of their pleasant scent and fast the degradation to the urban environment and living growth. In the late 1930s, the individuals of conditions caused by the industrial revolution. This plátanos (P. occidentalis) that had been planted in style highlights the aesthetic beauty, the harmony the 1920s no longer appeared in the photographs, showing that they had been removed.
Figure 4. Maurício Cardoso Avenue (1930) with plátanos (P. occidentalis) in urban afforestation resembling the French boulevards.
Still at the end of the 1930s, the Art Decó style, or intensified in this period and was marked by the decoration art, started to be used. It started in exports of large logs, mainly from pine and cedar Europe, post World War I, and was marked by trees, to Argentina, through riverboats down the simplicity and strong presence of geometry, with Uruguai River (TEDESCO and WENTZ, 2007; the predominance of vertical lines (SEGAWA, WENTZ, 2004). This commercial exploration of 1999). The buildings of Art Decó became popular the forests in the region was known as the “lumber and were built side by side near streets with no cycle”. Erechim had become an important afforestation. economic center in the region. The photographs show the reduction of the forests that surrounded the city. The lumber industry
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In the 1940s, the main avenue had its buildings at the end of the 1930s, the buildings were built replaced again. The owners of the buildings did not near the sidewalks, which had no afforestation. The hesitate to demolish and rebuild the buildings “green curtains” formed by trees lined up along the following their constant desire for modernity sidewalks, highly appreciated in the 1920s, (SOUZA, 2000). The new buildings were built in disappeared almost completely from the the Art Decó, the style that predominated until the photographs. The flowerbed of Maurício Cardoso end of the decade (Figure 5). Modern architecture Avenue are delineated by round-edged sidewalks, had two objectives: quickness and facility to build. which had grass, ligustros (L. lucidum) and The Art Decó style with its symmetric and regular extremosas (L. indica) in the central part. The trees lines and simple designs inspired by geometric were planted symmetrically: one individual of shapes satisfied both objectives (SEGAWA, 1999). ligustro (L. lucidum) on each edge and two The geometry and simplicity of Art Decó reflected individuals of extremosas (L. indica) in between, on the urban afforestation. Similar to the buildings separated by the light pole.
Figure 5: Absence of forestation on sidewalks and occurrence of glossy privet and crape myrtle trees on beds on the main avenue.
In 1939, the administration of urban centers was same, the economic prosperity due to the lumber transferred from the state to the municipalities. In industry continued to change the urban landscape. Erechim, since then, the interest and participation Despite the predominance of ligustros and of the private sector in the organization of housing extremosas, photographs from 1947 show the use projects, street planning and infrastructure of urban other species in urban afforestation (Figure 7). The services increased (CESE, 1979). This was to mark Maurício Cardoso Avenue received jacarandás the start of a drastic change in the organization of (Jacaranda mimosifolia D. Don) and seedlings of urban environments (Figure 6). The appreciation of ipê (Tabebuia spp.) were planted in several other land properties led to a fragmentation of lands and areas of the city. The palmtree jerivá (S. the vertical growth of the city. Although the romanzoffiana) was also observed in the medians of urbanization and landscaping plans remained the lateral streets. The use of native species in urban
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101 Soc. Bras. de Arborização Urbana REVSBAU, Piracicaba – SP, v.8, n.2, p 93‐109, 2013 afforestation was a consequence of diffusion of the always included Brazilian tree species, promoting ideas of Burle Marx, who became widely known the national flora (MEDEIROS, 2009; SILVA et for the use of colors and harmonious lines in his al., 2007; SEGAWA, 1999). landscape projects, started in the 1930s, which
Figure 6. The beginning of the 1940s with adjacencies showing the planting of Araucaria angustifolia trees. The sidewalks on the main avenue were still not afforested.
Figure 7. The end of the 1940s with removal of most native forest from the surroundings of the downtown area.
The concern with green spaces led to the creation of Parque Municipal Longines Malinowski, to honor a municipal park in 1948 in a forest remnant near a, designer and land surveyor that collaborated for the city center. In 1970, the park was denominated its planning and maintenance (SOUZA, 2000).
1950s: landscape revitalization of the city center
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As the city grew, several areas were built with Barneby) and extremosas (L. indica) were planted buildings and subdivisions. The lots were highly along the sidewalks. The central medians received appreciated; therefore, they became more expensive the hedgerows (B. sempervirens), and in the central and smaller. The urban afforestation assumed a new part of the medians, ornamental flowers and cypress configuration due to the need to maximize the (Cupressus spp.) grew on a grass cover. On the rational use of the spaces. Architecture in the 1950s median sidewalk, ligustros (L. lucidum) were was based on the compact, geometric and simple planted in a straight line. solutions. The buildings should express themselves The landscaping concepts of the time showed that in their own structure, not by secondary elements. squares had a role to play given that they were Gardens and leisure areas started to be more green spaces; therefore, they should be planned appreciated due to works of Burle Marx and other carefully (MACEDO, 1951). The Bandeira Square urbanists from the period (SEGAWA, 1999). These in the political, economic and religious center of the trends arrived to Erechim with the first city received a more solemn feature. It received a professionals graduated in the engineering course at water fountain with colorful lights, a symbol of university, among which Francisco Riopardense de modernization and economic prosperity of the city, Macedo was responsible for extending the its flowerbeds were redesigned adopting modernization process to the urban landscaping. harmonious curve lines. The afforestation of the In the early 1950s, the City Hall of Erechim started square comprised ligustros (L. lucidum), the paving of the main streets and implemented extremosas (L. indica) and cypress (Cupressus improvements to street lighting. Meanwhile, a spp.). The four gardens around the square were gardening and revitalization project of the city was afforested with American pines (Pinus patula elaborated by Riopardense de Macedo. The Schltdl. & Cham.), ipês (Tabebuia spp.) and sidewalks on streets, medians and Bandeira Square cypress (Cupressus spp.), besides exotic ornamental were covered with Portuguese mosaic, a technique flowers. that consisted of forming drawings and patterns In the late 1950s, the city already presented many using contrast of stones of different colors. rationalist features promoted by modern The project designed by Riopardense de Macedo architecture (Figure 8). The urbanist Riopardense conciliated the more recent European trends with de Macedo standardized the afforestation of the the dominant concepts in the large Brazilian cities. main streets and avenues in the city center, The photographs show that the landscaping was revitalized squares and flowerbeds and greatly predominantly done with widely used exotic contributed to the beautification of the city, which species. Jacarandás (J. mimosifolia), chuvas-de- has been preserved as such until the present time. ouro (Senna multijuga (Rich.) H.S. Irwin &
Figure 8. Maurício Cardoso Avenue (1957) showing a geometrical design according to the ideal order and rationality designed by Riopardense de Macedo.
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In 1957, the construction of the Edifício vertical growth, which was intensified in the Condomínio, the first building taller than four following decade, this process displayed a different stories in the city, changed the horizontal concept of architecture and, therefore, a new configuration of space, initiating the process of interpretation of the urban environment.
1960s: functional architecture
The 1960s were marked by constant search for photographs from this period show the contrast of modernity and progress. The landscape, a concept these new buildings with old buildings from the had assumed a harmonious feature characterized by 1930s and 1940s. It is observed, however, that the buildings of similar styles and uniform urban afforestation did not undergo great changes. afforestation, started to show distinct elements: On the main avenue, which concentrated the buildings designed from the functional architecture. business center of the city, the trees were removed The vertical growth of the city intensified along the from sidewalks (Figure 9). Photographs show that decade, with the replacement of many constructions on adjacent streets and residential areas, canela- for concrete buildings designed with predominant doce (Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume) and several cubic lines and with no decoration elements. The fruit trees were planted, probably, by residents.
Figure 9. Aerial view of the downtown area (1960s). Overview of trees planted by Riopardense de Macedo and the removal of trees from sidewalks.
1970 – 2000: industrialization and search for similarity to large cities
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From the 1970s to the 2000s, the industrialization The new regulations facilitated the constructions of process intensified. The railroad transportation was buildings taller than four stories and boosted real gradually abandoned and replaced by road estate speculation. The buildings started to be transportation. The logging firms succumbed due to designed based on the modern architecture adopted the depletion of forests and to the advance of in large urban centers in the country (Figure 10). agriculture, and although they represented an The gardens and afforested areas were highly important income source, they became a second appreciated comprising a large part of the urban plan. Industry and commerce became the major projects (SEGAWA, 1999). economic activities in Erechim. During the 1970s and 1980s, urban afforestation did From 1970 onwards, the constant growth of the not change. The photographs show that there was urban perimeter and lack of effective regulation led regular maintenance of the medians and Bandeira to the development of a Master Plan for the city. Square, which were relatively well preserved. It is Although it was presented in 1975, it was approved possible to observe pruning practices of several tree only in 1981 (FÜNFGELT, 2004). The plan divided species periodically. the city in zoning regions of activities and maintained the symmetric design of the streets.
Figure 10. Erechim (1979) showing a few differences from the initial concept of Riopardense de Macedo.
In 1994, Erechim had a new Master Plan for Urban The 1990s were marked by a change of the Growth. The landscape of the city was again perception of the human relation with the completely transformed. The small buildings from environment. There was an awareness of the mid 20th century were mostly replaced by taller environmental issues reflected in the way the urban modern buildings. The afforestation, on the other afforestation is perceived (MARCONDES, 1999). hand, underwent a few changes since the Therefore, the preference for native species is implementation of the project designed by currently widely used. Riopardense de Macedo (Figure 11).
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105 Soc. Bras. de Arborização Urbana REVSBAU, Piracicaba – SP, v.8, n.2, p 93‐109, 2013 In Erechim, there is a clear conflict between afforestation today are native species, most appreciation and preference for native species and individuals are still exotic species (ERECHIM, the aesthetic attractive of exotic ones. Although 2011), due to the preferential use of exotic species about 50% of the species found in urban for urban afforestation in the past.
Figure 11. Aerial view from Erechim (2007) showing the historical road planning designed by Torres Gonçalves.
Between the 1980s and 1990s, ligustros (L. From 2009, the Municipal Secretary of lucidum) on the main avenue were gradually Environment initiated a project of landscape replaced by jacarandás (J. mimosifolia), ipês renovation of the city's public spaces. The first step (Tabebuia spp.), canafístulas (Peltophorum dubium was the renovation of the Sete de Setembro (Spreng.) Taub.), ingás (Inga marginata Willd.) and Avenue, where the medians received ornamental pitangueiras (Eugenia uniflora L.). This flowers, a new lawn and native trees. replacement also occurred on central medians of The Maurício Cardoso Avenue, the Bandeira adjacent streets, where mostly native species were Square and the Boleslau Skrupski Square also planted. underwent a revitalization process. The trends In 1999, Decree No. 2,554 established detailed followed the same lines adopted by large cities in rules for urban afforestation in the city. The the country: exotic ornamental plants that require seedling planting, pruning and other services little maintenance and always have an attractive related to afforestation, as well as its management feature during different times of the year, as well as procedures were placed under the responsibility of the use of native tree species. Forms more similar to the municipal government. The Decree included a those found in the natural environment are suggested list of species, predominantly of native replacing the linear lines of the previous periods, species, for planting in urban public areas which implied the human domain on nature. (ERECHIM, 1999).
CONCLUSIONS
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The evolution of the urban afforestation followed uniform. Fragments of old times still resist and the urban evolution of Erechim. In the first half of there is pronounced difference between the central the 20th century, the predominance of exotic tree areas of the city from its surroundings. At the end species highlights not only the foreign influence of of the 1990s, the use of native species is increased the first dwellers, but also the trend to follow the in the urban afforestation and reflects the emphasis large cities in the world. Erechim was remodeled on the use of native biodiversity. several times; however, the city growth was not
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This study is a result of the partnership between the financial support through scholarships to the Universidade Regional Integrada do Alto Uruguai e authors. The authors also thank the Arquivo das Missões – URI campus Erechim and the City Histórico Municipal Juarez Miguel Illa Font that Hall of Erechim, which created the Master Plan for provided the pictures used in the study and the the urban afforestation of the city. The authors anonimous revisors for their suggestions and thank the City Hall of Erechim for the financial recommendations. support and the URI for the infrastructure and
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