ABSTRACT
This study aimed to determine criteria and parameters to inventory and classification the secondary forest of the Atlantic coast of Santa Catarina State, Brazil, to show that the regulations on forest use is inconsistent in relation to this classification, although this is its main guide. We propose that inventories aiming classifying secondary forests should include all individuals of each plot with 5cm of DBH or over and that Basal Area should be the only variable used to classify these forest formation into successional stages. This study suggests also that a classification of a secondary forest can de done based exclusively in its physiognomy.
Key Words
: forest succession; Atlantic Forest; Act 750