Page 36 - Respond 2020 Magazine

RESPOND

PORTS OF PARANÁ AIMING FOR BALANCE
The Ports of Paraná are a port complex
composed of the ports of Paranaguá and
Antonina. Strategically located in Brazil’s South WITH SUSTAINABLE
Region, the port terminals have the capacity to
handle all types of cargo (grain, container, fluids),
and can receive up to 24 ships at the same time, DEVELOPMENT ALONG
with a static capacity of 4 million tons of grain.
BRAZIL’S COAST

he Ports of Paraná are located in the middle of a very important and well-protected
biome, known as the Atlantic Rainforest, found in the eastern part of the state of Paraná,
Tbordered by the Atlantic Ocean. This biome has a huge natural richness and wide
biodiversity that covers most of the Brazilian coast. The Ports of Paraná are inside of the Mata
Atlantica Biosphere Reserve, recognised by UNESCO and, more specifically, are part of the
Paranaguá Estuarine Complex, one of the largest estuaries in Brazil.

Given their position in such an important environment and quality, sediments, atmospheric emissions, terrestrial and
understanding that human activities have effects on its underwater noise, plankton, benthos, ichthyofauna, birds,
surroundings, the Ports of Paraná try to minimise the most cetaceans, and turtles, among others.
negative effects that port activities have on the environment.
In addition to this, the Ports of Paraná develop programmes
The main objective of the Ports of Paraná is the sustainable
with the local communities to directly influence enterprise,
development of the state’s coast, taking into consideration
involving training and workshops that focus on improving
the regional mission of conservation of biodiversity and
environmental quality for and quality of life of the population.
regional culture, and trying to act according to the 17 ONU
The Ports of Paraná are also investing in rural infrastructure
millennium objectives.
through the renovation and/or construction of small
Among the largest ports in Brazil, the ports of Paraná public piers in 13 island communities. Through training
are the best in terms of environmental performance, programmes, the Ports of Paraná implement the Degraded
between the distinction granted by Brazilian Waterway Areas Recovery Plan for the watersheds that flow into the
Transportation Agency, given its concern and the effective Paranaguá Estuarine Complex. This deals with the recovery
actions needed to reconcile the economy environmental of agricultural environments in rural areas around the bay,
and development issues. especially those located in areas of permanent preservation,
through the use of Agroforestry Systems that use native plant
Ports of Paraná currently develop more than 40
species which are of commercial interest to the population.
environmental programmes focusing on environmental
monitoring and conservation. Among the programs With these actions, the Ports of Paraná seek not only to
developed are the frequent monitoring of the physical encourage the recovery of degraded areas, but to do so in
and biotic environments, reaching up to 600 km² within a sustainable manner that brings biodiversity to the region
the Paranaguá Estuarine Complex. Programmes for the and food sovereignty to the most vulnerable populations.
physical environment include the monitoring of water They plan to accomplish these actions using food and native

species that have recognised economic value. In addition,
this plan aims to reduce the erosion of river banks and,
consequently, the sedimentation of navigation channels, thus
reducing the need for dredging events.
Considering the economic importance of the Ports of
Paraná to Brazil and South America, the enterprise has
projects to expand its port capacity in a sustainable way,
by building new piers with modern systems that aim for
greater process efficiency. Apart from economic and
environmental performance, the Ports of Paraná aims at the
social development of the state’s coast, seeking integration
and balance between communities, environment, culture and
economy, throughout the entire port process.
www.portosdoparana.pr.gov.br

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