The objectives of this work were to quantify and qualify the urban trees of Rancho Novo District and Downtown Area of Nova Iguaçu City, State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Through the total inventory, 560 individuals distributed in 46 species were found in Rancho Novo District, in contrast to 1,374 individuals and 59 species in Downtown Area. In both areas, about 91% of the plants are among the 20 most frequent species, with Ficus benjamina and Cassia siamea predominating in Rancho Novo (21,6%) and Downtown (19,1 %), respectively. Rancho Novo District presented 18% of arboured public areas against 13,5% of Downtown Area. About 95% of the species were considered as small and medium sizes. The largest height averages were reached by Cassia siamea, in Rancho Novo, and almond trees in Downtown. The species located under electric lines represented 40% of the tree population, being 45% of those trees with evident conflicts. In the Downtown Area, 62% of the population needs pruning, with cleaning being the most important requirement, while in Rancho Novo District pruning is recommended for 50% of the population, mainly Ficus benjamina (14,5%). Cassia siamea is the most pruning demanding species in Downtown, with 25,8% of the recommendations. Large discrepancies were found for tree spacing, with average values of 56m in Rancho Novo District and 74 m in Downtown Area. The substitution of Cassia siamea, amendoeira, flamboyant and sombreiro by more appropriate species of urban trees is recommended.
Urban trees; street arborization; inventory; Nova Iguaçu
