The aim of this study was to test treatments to overcome dormancy in seeds of: Copaiba (Copaifera langsdorffii), Fava d'anta (Dimorphandra gardneriana), Janaguba (Himatanthus drasticus Mart. M.M. plumel) and Aroeira (Myracrodruon urundeuva allemao). The treatments tested were: mechanical scarification with sandpaper followed by immersion; chemical scarification with sulphuric acid and a control. The substrates were: soil and soil plus manure. The treatments tested varied between the species studied. After statistical analysis, it was possible to affirm that the best results for overcoming seed dormancy were obtained.