Beaches and tourism
Commercial activities play a fundamental role in tourism and are essential for the local economy, especially in regions sustained by tourist activities. However, when they are not properly regulated, they can generate significant environmental impacts, both direct and indirect. One of these impacts is the alteration of species found on the beach sand, which becomes even more evident during the high season when the increase in visitors intensifies the pressures on the environment.
Beach sand plays a fundamental role in connecting the marine and terrestrial ecosystems, as well as contributing to the cycle of nutrients that are essential for the growth and maintenance of the food chain of various species. Invertebrates are one of the main groups found in these environments, such as mollusks and annelids, especially Donax striatus and Scolelepis squamata. However, when this area is used for vehicle traffic, the impacts go beyond environmental damage and pose risks to the safety of visitors. Donax striatus and Scolelepis squamata. No entanto, quando essa área é utilizada para a circulação de veículos, os impactos vão além dos danos ambientais: também representam riscos à segurança dos frequentadores.
Figure 1 and 2. In figure 1, the species Donax Striatus. In figure 2, the species Scolelepis squamata. Source Figure 1: Femorale; Figure 2: WORMS. Available in: https://www.aphotomarine.com/worm_scolelepis_squamata.html.
How does this affect local creatures?
Various studies indicate that an increase in the number of visitors is directly related to a greater impact on local fauna and flora. These impacts can occur directly, such as the elimination of more vulnerable organisms, especially those without protective structures such as shells or rigid exoskeletons. In addition, there are indirect impacts such as altering the characteristics of the substrate, affecting species that depend on this environment for shelter and food, such as filter-feeding organisms.
Researchers from the Federal University of Pará and the Emílio Goeldi Museum sought to analyze the impact of tourist activities on benthic fauna on two beaches in the Salinópolis municipality: Atalaia and Corvina beaches. It is important to highlight that vehicles are allowed on Atalaia Beach while prohibited on Corvina. According to the IBGE, Salinópolis receives more than 280,000 tourists during the region’s summer, a demand that is constantly growing.
The study involved collecting samples of sand from the two beaches, both during and after the summer period, allowing a comparison of different parameters: grain size, classification, compaction, percentage of sand, and organic matter content. Among the factors analyzed, sand compaction stood out as one of the most relevant, directly influenced by the intensity of anthropogenic activities at the site. In addition, a lower diversity and quantity of species was observed on Atalaia Beach, specifically in the area where vehicles circulate, compared to the same strip on Corvina Beach.
It was also observed that the strip of sand closest to the houses on both beaches showed lower levels of species diversity both before and after the summer period. In other words, in addition to the movement of vehicles, the presence of homes also contributes to environmental changes in these ecosystems, which can have irreversible impacts on the local fauna.
Figure 4. Vehicle traffic in Salinópolis. Source: G1 Globo. Available in: https://g1.globo.com/pa/para/minha-praia/2017/noticia/carros-submersos-e-motoristas-alcoolizados-fazem-parte-da-rotina-da-praia-que-vira-rua-no-verao-do-pa.ghtml
How can this scenario be improved?
The researchers point to the importance of continuous monitoring and long-term studies to understand how these impacts affect these ecosystems, in order to make it possible to implement measures that reconcile tourism and environmental preservation. Finally, the study suggests controlling and decentralizing the flow of visitors, as well as banning vehicle traffic on the beaches as possible measures to guarantee the quality of life of the local community and the conservation of biodiversity.
References
IBGE, Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística, 2022.
Reyes-Martínez, M.J., Ruíz-Delgado, M.C., S´ anchez-Moyano, J.E., García-García, F.J., 2015. Response of intertidal sandy-beach macrofauna to human trampling: an urban vs. natural beach system approach. Mar. Environ. Res. 103, 36–45.
Santos, Thuareg; Venekey, Virág; Petracco, Marcelo. Do recreational activities affect macrofauna distribution pattern in Amazonian macrotidal sandy beaches?. Elsevier. 2023.
