Study Highlights Environmental Parks as Crucial for Conservation Strategies
Researchers observed 14 associations between sponges and sea snakes on the coast of Ceará. These interactions contribute to the recycling of organic matter in the oceans and to the formation and maintenance of the environment. Observing nature is an essential activity for humans. Understanding the dynamics of an ecosystem, the ecological relationships of the different agents that make it up, its defense mechanisms and all its activities when it is in a healthy state allows for better theorizing of how that ecosystem works and consequently leads to the development of more informed measures to protect these spaces.
It turns out that healthy natural areas, without human interference and significant degradation, are increasingly rare in the world. Researchers from the University of Queensland, in Australia, and the Wildlife Conservation Society have developed a global map of areas without human interference. Today, more than 70% of the land (excluding Antarctica) and 80% of the ocean have been modified by human activities. This human interference makes the role of environmental parks even more important for the scientific and general society. Seven of the 14 interactions that were observed between sponges and sea snakes, mentioned above, were seen in biodiversity conservation areas: the Pedra da Risca do Meio Marine State Park and the Arabaianas Canal, both in Fortaleza.
Ecological parks are conservation units (CU) designed for sustainable use. Their main objective is to preserve samples of natural ecosystems. These units facilitate the recovery of water resources and the restoration of degraded areas, promoting their reforestation with native species. Environmental monitoring of these areas provides important data on a healthy ecosystem and also on the regeneration process of these locations. Furthermore, as these are public domain areas, leisure and recreation activities for the population in harmonious contact with nature are encouraged, providing an opportunity to expand access to environmental education.
Understand to protect
Professor Ana Lúcia Brandimarte, from the Biology Institute at USP, is a specialist in continental water ecosystems. She works on monitoring water quality in the Serra da Cantareira State Park, an example of a UC that is closer to the reality of São Paulo. Opened in 1962, the park is a remnant of the Atlantic Forest and has one of the largest areas of tropical forest in metropolitan areas in the world. Both the fauna and flora of the park are home to endangered species, such as the howler monkey, the wild cat, the ocelot, the macuco, the white-necked hawk, the guan and the scissor-tailed nightjar. Among the plants are the imbuia, the black cinnamon and the sassafras cinnamon.
“We can only preserve what we understand. It is necessary to understand the structure and functioning of what we want to protect. Once we know this information, we can think about recovery or even restoration measures. In Cantareira Park, for example, it was possible to see the difference between a watercourse with and without human interference in more in-depth details,” he explains.
The professor and her team analyzed around 30 water sources in the region, collecting data on the chemical composition of the water, physical variables, organic compounds present and the interactions of the local biota with healthy bodies of water. “We observed very important characteristics: high concentrations of dissolved oxygen in the water, low concentration of nutrients, which discourages the growth of algae and favors the balance of the biota. We also mapped a series of insects and animals of certain taxonomic denominations that act as indicators of the health of these rivers. Their presence indicates that the water in that region is in good condition. Likewise, the presence of other species proved to be indicators of unhealthiness,” she explains.
This analysis works like a reference photograph. With it in hand, scientists have an exact image of what a healthy environment looks like before human interference. This gives researchers a guide in their work to find ways to restore this reference situation. “In the case of Cantareira Park, what we need now is to make the still degraded watercourses reach this reference situation that we discovered,” he says. “Before, we assumed that if the vegetation is preserved, then the water bodies are automatically protected and the water quality will be good. However, we observed that some of the park’s streams, even though they are protected, are still not in the ideal conditions observed. To understand why, it is necessary to consider aspects related to the control of land use and occupation in the park’s surroundings and changes in the biota. Often, activities outside the park end up influencing the environment within it, even though it is in a protected area. Since it is one of the largest urban environmental areas in the world, this data and restoration processes are very important,” he concludes.