2018 REVISTA ACTA GEOGRAFICA 2018 12(卷), 29(期), (75-93页)
This pioneering research was to analyze the floristic composition, based on the ecological succession of herbaceous of the Caatinga under degraded areas from mineral exploration in semi-arid of the Paraiba state, Brazil. For the floristic survey, four mineral exploration areas were selected with 20, 15, 10 years and one currently being explored. The results showed that the 10-year and current mineral exploration areas presented greater richness and diversity while, in the others, 20 and 15 years, the lowest numbers were recorded. This is due to the fact that this economic activity has been practiced in an impactful way, causing the reduction of plant diversity. The high dominance for Cnidoscolus urens (L.) Arthur (Euphorbiaceae) in the sampled areas, it can be seen that this species is invasive and alter the natural features of the environment, and reduce the natural population and accelerate the reduction of regeneration, once which also became a competitor of other species.