Documentary highlights environmental importance of country’s largest urban mangrove forest

Film shows how tradition, science and circular economy strengthen mangrove communities in Espírito Santo

Put:
Marcos Zibordi

Summary
The documentary Impacta Oceano: Mangue é Vida addresses the cultural, environmental and economic relevance of Espírito Santo’s urban mangroves, highlighting sustainable practices and appreciation of local communities.

Vitória has the largest extension of mangroves in Espírito Santo. Community projects preserve the unique ecosystem.

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A documentary on the cultural, social and ecological importance of marine conservation: this is the plot of Impact on the oceans: the mangrove is lifeon the mangroves of Espírito Santo, a state that has the largest set of ecosystems in an urban area in the country.

The largest of the mangroves of Espírito Santo, in Victoryequivalent to approximately 10% of the capital’s territory, with 891 hectares. In the mangrove forests, we find references to communities, such as crab divers, riverside dwellers who produce clay pots.

Besides the environmental and cultural importance, the mangrove It directly supports the families of fishermen and shellfish collectors, responsible for collecting crabs, crabs, shrimp, mussels and oysters, ingredients that constitute the basis of Espírito Santo’s gastronomy, especially in traditional dishes such as Moqueca.

Generations of riverside residents make their living from mangroves and are most concerned about preserving their source of income, identity, culture and leisure activities.

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Community on the circular economy wave

One of the characters in the documentary is Ibere Sassiwho invented a way to reuse the shells of the sururu, a mollusc that lives in the brackish waters of mangroves. “Waste is an organic and regenerative input, capable of bringing life back to the soil, reducing inappropriate disposal in mangroves and strengthening a circular chain that unites the environment, science and the community. »

At the center of the project are the shellfish harvesters, women who view the mangrove as an extension of their own lives. They participate in all stages of the process — from collection to sorting and processing of shells — guaranteeing income, recognition and autonomy. This is the case of the Cíntia do Nascimento seafood restaurant.

She is a member of Association of Artisanal Fishermen of Porto de Santana and surrounding areas (APAPS). Cíntia says that before the shells were used, shell remains filled the mangroves and caused blockages in people’s homes. “Right here where I live, there were floods because the ditch was blocked. The water carried everything away.”

Image from the documentary Impacta Oceano: Mango é Vida: shellfish shells before being transformed to become an agricultural input.

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Espírito Santo has three main types of mangroves

The Espírito Santo mangrove is home to three main species: the red mangrove, the white mangrove and the black mangrove. Considered the “sea crib», this ecosystem is essential for the reproduction and development of several species of fish, crustaceans and birds.

The red mangrove, one of the most representative species, has roots that grow perpendicular to the trunk, allowing it to be repaired in flooded lands. Tannin is extracted, a raw material used to make traditional clay pots, a centuries-old symbol of Espírito Santo culture.

Among animals, the crab is the most abundant species, followed by the sururu, in addition to numerous birds. “The stories in the documentary reveal the transformative power of initiatives that combine belonging, innovation, social impact and the defense of coastal ecosystems,” he says. Amanda Albano-Alvesfounding partner of Bloom Ocean, which produced the documentary.