“It’s our problem”: mangrove expert talks about the importance of preserving them

As a child, Mário Soares first explored a mangrove forest in Guaratiba, Rio de Janeiro, a place that remained important throughout his life. After graduating in Oceanography and carrying out research on a species of mangrove crab in Sepetiba Bay, Soares decided to change his focus to ecosystem ecology. During his doctorate at the University of São Paulo, he returned to Guaratiba to study the region's mangroves and later served as head of the Guaratiba Biological Reserve.

Today, with more than 30 years of research in mangroves, Soares is a professor in the department of Biological Oceanography at the State University of Rio de Janeiro (UERJ) and coordinates the Mangrove Studies Center (Nema), where he conducted pioneering research in Brazil on the impact of climate change on mangroves and their role in carbon sequestration.

At Nema, he takes a transdisciplinary approach to mangrove research, collaborating with areas such as chemical oceanography, geography, political science and anthropology. Its work seeks to produce applied science, collaborating with environmental managers. Over the last 15 years, he has also investigated socio-environmental conflicts in different contexts in Brazil.

Soares recently spoke with Mongabay on a video call. The following interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.

With more than 30 years of research in mangroves, Mário Soares is a professor in the department of Biological Oceanography at the State University of Rio de Janeiro (UERJ) and coordinates the Mangrove Studies Center (Nema). Photo provided by the Center for Mangrove Studies – Nema/UERJ.