Abstract. The studies directed to quantify the carbon fixed stocks by natural forests are in ample evidence, as well as discussion about the effectiveness of the recovery of degraded areas as a strategy to reduce atmospheric CO 2 levels. In this sense, this study had two purposes: i) quantify the carbon stocks present in the shoot biomass of a tropical semi-deciduous Montana fragment, which belongs to the Atlantic Forest biome in Minas Gerais state and; ii) incorporate the variable carbon stock in the horizontal phytosociological analysis structure and compare the results to those obtained by the standard methodology without using the variable in the calculation of the species importance value. The results indicate that the carbon stock equals to the fragments found at the intermediate succession stage, and that the carbon variable use greatly influences the species importance value. This methodology serves as a support for the selection of species which present the greatest potential to sequester carbon and may support programs for the remnant restoration of the Atlantic Forest biome.