While the 2025 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) brought together researchers and world leaders in Belém (PA) to discuss mitigation and adaptation strategies, local initiatives show how science and communities can work together on the front lines of environmental conservation. On the coast of Paraná, the Marés de Mudança (Tides of Change) project, developed by the Foundation for the Support of the Development of the State University of Paraná (FUNESPAR), with support from the Paraná Coastal Biodiversity Program (BLP), is an example of this integration.
Executed in the Paranaguá Estuarine Complex (CEP), one of the most ecologically important areas in the country, the project identifies and evaluates how non-native benthic species—organisms that live on the seabed, such as mollusks and crustaceans—behave in a scenario of warming waters and altered environmental conditions, assessing the impacts on port activities, local communities, and Conservation Units (UCs).
According to the project coordinator, biologist Rafael Metri, a professor at the State University of Paraná (UNESPAR), the research is aligned with the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science, aiming to raise awareness about the importance of the oceans and mobilize public and private actors, as well as civil society organizations (CSOs), in actions that promote the health and sustainability of the seas.
“We research the biodiversity of benthic organisms, especially on rocky shores and artificial substrates. These organisms accurately reflect environmental conditions, and when the scenario changes, some more tolerant species end up prevailing,” he explains.
According to the biologist, introduced species tend to be more resistant to environmental variations. “In impacted areas, where native biodiversity is compromised, they can establish themselves more easily. We have already observed an increase in marine heat waves and their influence on the abundance of native and invasive species,” he adds.
The coastline of Paraná, recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as a Natural World Heritage Site, is home to the most preserved remnants of the Atlantic Forest in the country, vast areas of mangroves, and traditional communities that depend directly on marine resources. Given this, climate change and the presence of invasive species threaten both biodiversity and the local economy.
“Any activity that affects the vulnerability of communities and ecosystems needs to be carefully evaluated. In a port region with high vessel traffic, bioinvasion is an impact that must be monitored,” Metri emphasizes. “The ecosystem services of rocky reefs are fundamental for maintaining biodiversity, fisheries resources, and ecological cycles. But these services are threatened by warming waters and acidification, aspects that we seek to understand better,” adds the researcher.
Main impacts
Among the observed impacts are direct damages to artisanal fishing, with invasive species competing with native ones and altering the ecological balance. Non-native oysters and crabs have affected fishermen’s income and required adaptations in traditional practices.
The hooded oyster (Saccostrea cuccullata) has been dominating mangrove and coastal areas, replacing native oysters used for consumption and trade. Smaller and with an inferior flavor, it is more difficult to open and can cause injuries due to the sharp edge of its shell. The invasive blue crab (Charybdis helleri), in turn, competes with native species caught by traditional communities. There are also records of non-native bryozoans, which become entangled in nets, reduce fishing efficiency, and increase the effort required by fishermen.
These reports have been gathered from conversations with local fishermen and restaurants, within a citizen science process conducted by the Marés de Mudança project team. In addition to generating a database on non-native marine species, the project promotes environmental education and citizen science, involving communities and institutions such as the Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office (MPF), the Public Prosecutor’s Office of Paraná (MPPPR), the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio), the Water and Land Institute (IAT), and universities such as the State University of Paraná (UNESPAR), the Federal Institute of Paraná (IFPR), the Federal University of Paraná (UFPR), and the University Center for Studies and Research on Disasters (CEPED).
“We have research groups, environmental managers, and communities working together for a healthy marine environment. In port regions, this interdisciplinarity is essential and, in the face of climate change, even more urgent,” says Metri.
Port environmental licensing processes have incorporated diagnoses and monitoring programs for non-native species, driven by the joint action of academia, environmental agencies, and the Public Prosecutor’s Office. According to Metri, “the project demonstrates how science, management, and communities can work together for coastal conservation and adaptation to climate change. Conserving coastal zones requires joint action, promoting resilience and sustainability,” he emphasizes.
The program encouraged research
With a duration of two years and an investment of over R$ 640,000 from the Paraná Coastal Biodiversity Program, the project adopts an interdisciplinary approach that includes collection, species characterization, and participatory mapping, allowing for more precise monitoring and understanding of their dispersal.
The collected information will be compiled into a public database, promoting collaboration between institutions and communities. Awareness materials are also being developed to educate the public about the importance of managing invasive species, contributing to the conservation of coastal ecosystems and the improvement of environmental management tools, such as management plans and protected area councils.
About the Coastal Biodiversity Program of Paraná
Created in 2021, the Paraná Coastal Biodiversity Program promotes conservation, research, and the responsible use of natural resources, strengthening Conservation Units and boosting the sustainable development of the Paraná coast. Funded by the Judicial Settlement Agreement (TAJ) signed after the oil spill in 2001, the Program transformed an environmental liability into a historic investment in conservation: more than R$ 110 million will be allocated to strategic initiatives over ten years.
The governance of the Program is shared between civil society organizations, higher education institutions, and the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio), overseen by the Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office and the Public Prosecutor’s Office of Paraná. The financial and operational management of the Program is carried out by the Brazilian Biodiversity Fund (FUNBIO). To learn more, visit www.biodiversidadelitoralpr.com.br.
Source: brasil247.com