Brazil explores nature-based solutions to strengthen port climate resilience

Brazilian authorities are studying how natural ecosystems such as mangroves, coastal vegetation and dunes can help ports adapt to climate change, as the country looks to strengthen the resilience of its maritime infrastructure.

Brazil’s National Waterway Transportation Agency (ANTAQ), the Ministry of Ports and Airports and the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change brought together about 80 representatives from the port industry, government agencies, research institutions and international organizations in Brasília on October 21 and 22 to discuss nature-based solutions for the sector.

The initiative focuses on using ecosystem conservation and restoration alongside port planning to address climate-related risks while identifying the regulatory, technical and financial conditions needed to expand such projects.

“Treating natural capital as a strategic asset requires public regulation that provides legal certainty and private investment that gives scale,” ANTAQ ESG and Innovation Superintendent Cristina Castro said.

Brazil port climate resilience efforts examine existing projects

The workshop presented examples already being developed or studied in Brazil and abroad.

Among them was Living Seawalls, which uses specially designed structures to support marine biodiversity, as well as conservation and restoration work in the Caruara Reserve, associated with the Port of Açu in Rio de Janeiro state.

Researchers from the Federal University of Paraná also presented studies on sediments and alternatives for reducing flooding.

Participants identified several barriers to wider adoption of nature-based solutions at ports, including financing, implementation costs, technical expertise, environmental licensing and regulation.

Working groups held during the second day of the meeting compared existing experiences and developed recommendations intended to make these solutions easier to implement across Brazilian ports.

Best-practices guide planned for April 2027

The recommendations gathered during the workshop will now be consolidated into a technical report and a best-practices guide for nature-based solutions in the Brazilian port sector.

ANTAQ expects the guide to be presented in April 2027, during Ocean Decade Week in Rio de Janeiro.

Authorities also plan to create a dedicated section on the Sustainable Urban Development Network, or REDUS, portal to provide access to technical references, project examples and supporting material.

The initiative forms part of ANTAQ’s 2025-2026 Environmental and Waterway Safety Agenda and is also expected to support implementation of Brazil’s Transport Sector Climate Adaptation Plan, which includes measures aimed at reducing climate risks to port infrastructure.

The work marks an effort to bring ecosystem-based approaches into the longer-term planning of Brazilian ports, alongside conventional infrastructure and engineering measures as the sector prepares for growing climate-related challenges.

Fonte: ANTAQ

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