Assessment for a successful ecological restoration can be done by comparisons with reference ecosystems (non degraded sites or habitat patches) selected in the borders of restoration sites. In this work a comparison among four reforestations (aging three to five years) and four neighboring of Semideciduous Atlantic Forest fragments were presented. Tree density in reforestations was near 50% of the average in forests, but necromass ranged from 24% to 33% and biomass from 18% to 75% of forest averages. High soil compaction (> 2.0 Mpa) was observed only on younger reforestations, and compaction decreased root mass. Young Atlantic Forest restoration sites (up to five years) are important carbon sinks, but may have little influence on soil physical properties.
biomass; ecological restoration; necromass; soil compaction
