Bridging science and policy through data synthesis: Guiding environmental impact research and coastal management in Brazil

The rapid expansion of urbanization along Brazil’s coastline presents significant challenges for sustainable management, intensifying pressure on coastal-marine ecosystems through increased water contamination, demand for natural resources, and habitat degradation. Diagnosing the state of scientific knowledge is essential to identify gaps and environmental challenges, providing the foundation for informed decision-making and improved management strategies toward sustainable and resilient coasts. In this context, we have conducted scientific reviews integrated with governmental public data to support evidence-based decision-making, aligning research priorities with policy needs in Brazil, a developing nation of the Global South. With over 8,500 km of coastline, diverse marine ecosystems spanning from tropical to warm temperate climates, and half of its population living in coastal cities or nearby, Brazil faces critical environmental challenges, such as water pollution, coastal hardening, and overfishing. Climate change, governance inequalities, and poor management strategies in sustainability further intensify these challenges, reinforcing the need for actionable knowledge to inform policies. Our research synthesized data on different human stressors associated with coastal cities, evaluating their ecological impacts on coastal-marine ecosystems of Brazil. Pollution research has primarily focused on metal contamination driven by industrial development, while major chronic issues, such as untreated or poorly treated sewage in most coastal cities, remain overlooked. Furthermore, the environmental impacts of coastal hardening, through the construction of artificial structures in the marine environment, are not well known. Although 66 exotic species have been recorded on these structures, research remains centered on artificial reefs. Additionally, overfishing has contributed to declining fish stocks, yet its broader impacts on invertebrate species remain largely unknown. Meanwhile, the environmental consequences of tourism — a primary source of income of local communities along with fishing on the Brazilian coast — are still poorly understood. These efforts have revealed persistent knowledge gaps due to the spatial fragmentation of existing studies, highlighting the need for comprehensive baseline data to support local management strategies. As a key outcome of this work, we have been transforming our scientific findings into policy-oriented technical documents targeted at decision-makers, legislators, public managers, and the general public. These documents aim to raise awareness of environmental challenges, emphasize adopting nature-based solutions to mitigate ecosystem degradation and biodiversity loss, and advocate for the co-creation of sustainable management strategies to enhance ecosystem services and coastal resilience. Our work exemplifies how science can bridge the gap with public policy by translating complex ecological data into actionable recommendations to promote resilience in coastal cities but also to address the socio-environmental inequalities prevalent in developing nations.