The impacts caused by drainage channels in wet areas of the Gravataí River – Rio Grande do Sul - Brazil and in Praia da Coronilha – Rocha – Uruguay

Abstract

Throughout history, many watercourses have undergone transformations to meet the demands for land and water use for agriculture and human supply. In both Uruguay and Rio Grande do Sul – Brazil, the human action that most contributes to the degradation of wetlands is the cultivation of irrigated rice, through the drainage of areas, the use of pesticides and fertilizers, the removal of water for crops . In the scientific literature, there are few studies addressing the topic of anthropogenic impacts related to drainage channels in coastal Wet Areas (UAs) located in the south of Brazil and north of Uruguay. This work involves showing some impacts caused by the opening of drainage channels in AUs in different locations, which result in environmental impacts such as erosion processes, fires, changes in vegetation, degradation of wetlands, interventions in the dynamics of marine life, especially turtles. In summary, it is essential to adopt integrated and sustainable approaches to the management of AUs, considering the diverse impacts of human activities and interventions on the environment, to ensure the resilience and health of these areas in the long term.

DOI:https://doi.org/10.56238/sevened2023.001-012