The Challenges of Sociobiodiversity: Integrating Biophysical, Cultural, and Epistemological Diversities in Coastal Marine Territories in Brazil

Within the scope of the Congress on Cultural Ecosystem Services and Biocultural Heritage, held on 20 and 21 May 2025 at the University of Coimbra, Fátima Alves from the Societies and Environmental Sustainability Research Group at the Centre for Functional Ecology – Science for People & the Planet, Associated Laboratory Terra of the University of Coimbra and its Extension at the Open University of Portugal, presented the communication:

• The Challenges of Sociobiodiversity: Integrating Biophysical, Cultural, and Epistemological Diversities in Coastal Marine Territories in Brazil

This presentation outlines the trajectory developed by the CFE-UC associated project "Promoting the Cultural Value of Biodiversity and Sustainability in Coastal Marine Territories: Valuing Plural Knowledges and Practices through the Intercultural University of the Peoples", coordinated by the researcher who is part of the Rede Marangatu – Citizen Science Network for Territorial Governance and Promotion of Policies for the Preservation and Enhancement of Coastal Marine Sociobiodiversity.

The communication was co-authored by Diogo Guedes Vidal, Rosário Rosa, Yedda Oliveira, and Helena Freitas, researchers of the associated project at the Centre for Functional Ecology – Science for People & the Planet of the University of Coimbra.

The work emphasised the importance of integrating biophysical, cultural, and epistemological diversities in the management and valorisation of coastal marine territories, with a particular focus on traditional Brazilian communities and the recognition of their knowledge and practices as essential for socio-ecological justice and sustainability.