-(Trails and their ecological role: what have we learned and what are the prospects for restoration of ecosystems?). We aimed at reviewing the ecological role of the trails and inserting this theme into restoration ecology projects. For a comprehensive understanding of this ecological role, we addressed the applicability of trails to Environmental Education (EE) projects and their impacts on vegetation. We showed that trails are suitable places to practice EE programs. On the other hand, we point out a number of potential concerns arising from the use and opening of trails as, for example, soil compaction and changes in the composition, structure, and diversity of adjacent vegetation. Hence, we indicate that trails can be addressed in restoration projects of ecosystems. We conclude by suggesting some questions that can guide future works on trails and vegetation, including their connections with restoration ecology. Keywords: Environmental Education, forest fragmentation, human impacts, soil compaction, species diversity RESUMO -(Trilhas e seu papel ecológico: o que temos aprendido e quais as perspectivas para a restauração de ecossistemas?). Nosso objetivo foi revisar o papel ecológico das trilhas e inserir essa temática nos projetos de restauração ecológica. Para uma compreensão abrangente desse papel ecológico, abordamos tanto as possíveis aplicações das trilhas para projetos de Educação Ambiental (EA) quanto seus impactos sobre a vegetação. Mostramos que as trilhas ecológicas constituem espaços adequados para a prática de programas de EA. Por outro lado, apontamos uma série de potenciais problemas advindos da abertura e utilização de trilhas, como, por exemplo, compactação do solo e alterações na composição, estrutura e diversidade da vegetação adjacente, para então indicarmos que é possível abordar as trilhas nos projetos de restauração de ecossistemas. Concluímos sugerindo algumas perguntas que poderão nortear os futuros trabalhos sobre trilhas e vegetação, incluindo suas conexões com a restauração ecológica. Palavras-chave: compactação do solo, diversidade de espécies, Educação Ambiental, fragmentação florestal, impactos antrópicos

No abstract

Neotropical forests (NFs) play a main role in delivering environmental services such as biodiversity conservation and C sink. At the same time, these are some of the most disturbed vegetations in the world, since they are under accelerated rates of suppression and recovery. Conserving the remaining NF and recovering degraded areas is then urgent, although it is not an easy task. Ecological traits are widely varied across NF, as well as their responses to anthropic intervention. Generally, two large groups are observed according to climatic traits: (a) rain forests (RFs), in regions with 6 months or more of precipitation during the year and (b) seasonal dry forests (SDFs), in drier regions. Such forest types show very distinct species composition, α-and β-diversities, as well as functional and biomass dynamics. In this chapter, we both highlight the main differences between RF and DF, from their origin to present-day distribution, species composition, taxonomic and functional diversities, and discuss the predictions for shifts in all these traits during the next decades. Although few certainties, NF potential for mitigation of atmospheric C increases is a consensus among researchers. We also speculate about possible interventions, with the aim of avoiding a drastic future scenario.