Sidnei Aranha

The COVID-19 pandemic constituted a global socio-economic crisis with long-lasting consequences. In response to the rapid spread of the virus, governments worldwide implemented containment measures such as social distancing, mask mandates, and mobility restrictions, which also affected access to urban green spaces (UGS). This study presents a systematic review to identify key lessons from the pandemic regarding the use of UGS during public health crises. The analysis included 155 studies published between 2020 and 2025, grouped into four main research domains: visitation patterns (n=88 studies), planning and management of UGS (n=15), associations with viral transmission (n=11), and health benefits (n=41). The results revealed significant geographical disparities in scientific production and demonstrated that the pandemic substantially reshaped UGS visitation patterns, with proximity to residential areas becoming a critical determinant for outdoor activities such as physical exercise and recreation. At the same time, the literature highlights persistent inequalities in access to urban nature, disproportionately affecting low-income communities, ethnic minorities, and older populations. Based on the synthesized evidence, five key policy recommendations emerge for future lockdowns: i) ensuring equitable access to UGS; ii) improving their quality and spatial distribution; iii) integrating UGS into emergency preparedness strategies; iv) implementing safe visitation protocols; and v) promoting health-supportive behaviors compatible with public use of green environments. These lessons are particularly relevant in a context of increasing epidemiological risks associated with global environmental change. The findings reinforce that equitable access to high-quality UGS should be recognized as a strategic priority for urban governance and public health resilience.

Mangrove forests are biodiverse and highly productive coastal ecosystems, fundamental to fisheries and tourism. However, they are severely threatened by human activities and invasive species, particularly in port areas such as the Port of Santos, necessitating effective environmental management. This study aimed to analyze the risks of biological invasion in mangrove ecosystems stemming from port activities, with a focus on the Port of Santos (PS), Brazil. To achieve this, we conducted a bibliometric review using the Web of Science and Scopus databases, analyzed vessel traffic flows arriving at the PS over 14 years (from 2010 to 2024), and discussed alternatives to address the challenge of biological invasion. The review revealed a significant gap in the scientific literature, as few studies (9.9%, n = 71) address the intersection of maritime transport, invasive species, and mangroves in Latin American contexts. The intense and constant flow of international vessels into the Port of Santos, totaling 15,193 arrivals from more than 200 ports worldwide between 2010 and 2024, poses a persistent threat of biological invasion. This high-volume connectivity, with several foreign hubs exceeding 300 departures in the period, reinforces the role of ships as vectors transporting exotic species in ballast water and through hull fouling. This can destabilize local ecosystems and cause significant socioeconomic losses unless control measures, mediated by effective policies, regulations, and technologies, are implemented in the short term. A spatiotemporal analysis of vessel traffic flows over a 14-year period revealed persistent high-risk corridors for bioinvasion, directly linking maritime activity patterns to the threat level for adjacent mangrove ecosystems. The data indicate a substantial challenge for the PS, yet one with a high potential for resolution in the medium term, contingent upon investment in technology and regulation.

Objective – To develop a research instrument with questions aimed at professionals and experienced educators in the field, with the purpose of providing a guiding material for planning environmental education projects and actions, emphasizing the theme of solid waste management. Methodology – Descriptive and exploratory bibliographic research, followed by content analysis of six articles aligned with the proposed objective. These articles served as the basis for identifying the main challenges faced in environmental education projects carried out in favelas and urban communities, as well as the methodological approaches adopted in order to mitigate such challenges. Originality/relevance – Favelas face daily lack of basic infrastructure and high levels of social vulnerability. In this context, environmental education becomes essential to promote public health, given its direct relationship with the environment. On the other hand, it is understood that there is still a long way to go to make this process effective so that real and lasting changes are perceived in the population's behavior, both regarding urban solid waste and the environment more broadly. Results – Initiatives only achieve significant impact with the active participation of residents in discussions and decisions on waste management, which highlights the importance of strengthening the sense of belonging and shared responsibility.Theoretical/methodological contributions – The developed instrument can be useful for planning informal actions or focus groups composed of professionals or environmental educators working in vulnerable communities.Social and environmental contributions – The importance of strengthening the sense of belonging and shared responsibility is highlighted so that real and lasting changes are perceived in the population's behavior regarding solid waste and the environment more broadly.

Objetivo do Estudo: A avaliação da gestão de resíduos sólidos em um município é uma ferramenta poderosa para a aferição da eficiência dos projetos implantados e da execução das atividades adotadas pelos gestores e demais atores envolvidos. Nesse sentido, esse estudo analisou as ações da Prefeitura Municipal de Guarujá entre os anos de 2017 a 2021, alinhadas com o Plano Regional de Gestão Integrada de Resíduos Sólidos da Baixada Santista. Metodologia: A pesquisa foi conduzida como uma abordagem qualitativa por meio de análise documental. As informações foram coletadas diretamente da Secretaria de Meio Ambiente (SEMAM), da Prefeitura de Guarujá, Secretaria de Serviços Urbanos (SEURB) e foram analisadas à luz das referências bibliográficas selecionadas e sob o ponto de vista da conclusão de cada ação identificada. Originalidade / Relevância: Nesta pesquisa, é proposta uma abordagem inovadora ao examinar a gestão de resíduos sólidos em Guarujá, enfocando o Plano Regional. Destaca-se a importância de uma gestão integrada e ressalta-se a necessidade de revisar as estratégias adotadas pela prefeitura, trazendo uma perspectiva original ao assunto. Principais Resultados: Como principais resultados destacam-se os avanços significativos que o município de Guarujá produziu em relação ao planejamento e implementação de políticas públicas para viabilizar a gestão de resíduos sólidos em seu território. Contribuições: Adicionalmente, esse estudo revela falhas na legislação vigente e enfatiza a relevância da criação de Unidades Regionalizadas de Resíduos Sólidos para garantir a efetividade dos planos regionais. Consequentemente, as descobertas obtidas nessa pesquisa constituem contribuições científicas que visam impulsionar a implementação de políticas públicas mais efetivas e sustentáveis no campo da gestão de resíduos sólidos.

Medium- and large-sized cities of Latin America struggle with the issue of air pollution. Urban forests are part of the city landscape and play an important role in mitigating air pollution, hence they must be considered in environmental policies. This study aimed to evaluate the spatial and temporal concentrations of air pollutants and the role of urban forests in mitigating this issue in a coastal city of Brazil. The city houses the largest port in Latin America and faces a demographic explosion during the holiday season due to its tourism potential. The study results showed spatial-temporal variations in the concentration of air pollutants. Urban fragments in the low-income part of the city exhibited higher values of Cd and Pb during the rainy season. Cu values were the highest during the rainy season in all study areas, strongly marking the intensity of the light vehicle fleet. Forest fragments attenuated air pollution, highlighting their importance as features of environmental planning. These results emphasize the need for information bearing important policy implications for the city of Guaruja which may ultimately promote an agreement with the administration of the Port to support green projects in the city’s grayest and most socioeconomically vulnerable settlements.

Resumo Conflitos socioambientais resultam de pressões antrópicas sobre o meio ambiente e refletem questões sociais e políticas, principalmente onde o poder público não ascende com soluções para atender às necessidades dos cidadãos. Embora exista relevante literatura científica brasileira, nesta priorizam-se estudos de “diagnósticos”, com lacuna de estudos direcionados à mediação por meio de modelos adaptados a embates, atores envolvidos e danos ambientais. Assim, apresenta-se uma análise sobre formas de mediação de conflitos, em São Mateus do Sul-PR, cidade que abriga uma indústria de mineração de xisto. Divergências a partir de reclamações dos moradores sobre problemas respiratórios levaram à proposição de uma ação judicial pelo Ministério Público do Paraná. Foi utilizado o Modelo Diagnóstico de Rondeau (1996), com intuito de analisar potenciais formas para explicar e, então, mediar o conflito, em alternativa à judicialização. Dados primários foram obtidos pela análise de conteúdo de Ações Civis Públicas protocoladas no Poder Judiciário/PR. Devido ao fato de os tribunais estarem repletos de casos da área ambiental sem solução, verifica-se a importância do estudo à proposição de abordagens de negociação para embates socioambientais, por meio de modelos teóricos com soluções em curto espaço de tempo.