The objectives of this study were to survey the floristic composition of the arboreal and regenerative stratum of the headwaters of the Santa Cruz River watershed and to select species to be used for reforestation of degraded and disturbed headwaters of the watershed. The floristic and structural surveys were carried out in twelve headwaters. Detrended correspondence analysis (DCA) and cluster analysis were used to compare the floristic profile among the headwaters. The vegetation of the arboreal stratum presented higher diversity in the disturbed than in the degraded headwaters, as well as in the punctual than in the diffuse springs. The floristic similarity of the regenerative stratum among the headwaters of the same category allowed to infer that preferential species should be used for each state of conservation (disturbed or degraded) and environmental condition (humid or well drained soil) in reclamation programs of permanent preservation of headwaters in the Santa Cruz River basin.
Headwater; riparian forest; floristic composition, environmental reclamation; natural regeneration
