O GEOPROCESSAMENTO COMO SUPORTE AO MANEJO SUSTENTÁVEL DA ERVA-MATE (Ilex paraguariensis A. ST.-HIL.) EM AMBIENTE NATURAL

The management of the forest species Ilex paraguariensis St. Hill. is an option of great economic potential in the south of Brazil, specially in its natural forest environment. However it must be adequately conducted in order to keep its sustainable productivity for a long term period. Thus, a suitable planning is necessary for harvesting as rotations well as, for increasing the density of the stands and the enrichment with Ilex paraguariensis of new natural suitable areas. Nowadays, the planning of several management practices can benefit from the use of geographical information systems (GIS). This paper shows the potential of GIS to control forest management practices of the Ilex paraguariensis under canopy stands in natural forest environment.