While the 2025 United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP30) gathered researchers and global leaders in Belém (PA) to discuss mitigation and adaptation strategies, local initiatives demonstrate how science and communities can work together on the front lines of environmental conservation. On the Paraná coast, the Marés de Mudança project, developed by the Foundation for Support to the Development of the State University of Paraná (FUNESPAR), with funding from the Paraná Coastal Biodiversity Program (BLP), is an example of this integration.
Implemented in the Paranaguá Estuarine Complex (CEP), one of the country’s most ecologically significant areas, the project identifies and assesses how non-native benthic species — organisms that live on the seafloor, such as mollusks and crustaceans — behave in a scenario of warming waters and changing environmental conditions, evaluating 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 aligns with the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science, aimed at raising awareness about the importance of oceans and mobilizing public, private actors, and 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 reflect environmental conditions well, and when the scenario changes, some more tolerant species end up dominating,” 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 the increase in marine heatwaves and their influence on the abundance of native and invasive species,” he adds.
The Paraná coast, recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as a World Natural Heritage site, hosts the country’s most preserved remnants of Atlantic Forest, vast mangrove areas, and traditional communities that directly depend on marine resources. In this context, 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 thoroughly 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 essential for maintaining biodiversity, fishery resources, and ecological cycles. But these services are threatened by water warming and acidification, aspects we seek to better understand,” the researcher adds.
Main Impacts
Among the observed impacts are direct losses to artisanal fishing, with invasive species competing with natives and altering ecological balance. Non-native oysters and crabs have affected fishermen’s income and required adaptations in traditional practices.
The hooded oyster (Saccostrea cuccullata) is dominating mangrove and rocky shore areas, replacing native oysters used for consumption and trade. Smaller and with an inferior flavor, it is harder to open and can cause injuries due to the sharp edge of its shell. The invasive crab (Charybdis helleri), meanwhile, competes with native species caught by traditional communities. There are also records of non-native bryozoans that tangle in nets, reducing fishing efficiency and increasing fishermen’s effort.
These reports have been gathered from conversations with fishermen and local restaurants, as part of a citizen science process led 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), Paraná Public Prosecutor’s Office (MPPPR), Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio), Water and Earth Institute (IAT), and universities including the State University of Paraná (UNESPAR), Federal Institute of Paraná (IFPR), Federal University of Paraná (UFPR), and the University Center for Disaster Studies and Research (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,” Metri states.
Port environmental licensing processes have incorporated diagnostics and monitoring programs for non-native species, driven by the joint action of academia, environmental agencies, and the Public Prosecutor’s Office. For Metri, “the project shows 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 highlights.
Program Supported the Research
With a two-year duration and 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, enabling more precise monitoring and understanding of their dispersion.
The collected information will be compiled into a public database, fostering collaboration between institutions and communities. Awareness materials are also being developed to sensitize the population 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 Conservation Unit councils.
About the Paraná Coastal Biodiversity Program
Created in 2021, the Paraná Coastal Biodiversity Program promotes conservation, research, and responsible use of natural resources, strengthening Conservation Units and boosting sustainable development of the Paraná coast. Funded by the Judicial Agreement Term (TAJ) established after the 2001 oil spill, 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 Program’s governance is shared among civil society organizations, higher education institutions, and the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio), supervised by the Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office and the Paraná Public Prosecutor’s Office. 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