Recognising and Valuing the Cultural Significance of Biodiversity in Coastal Marine Territories through Plural Knowledges Systems

Publication: Recognising and Valuing the Cultural Significance of Biodiversity in Coastal Marine Territories through Plural Knowledges Systems

The article "Recognising and Valuing the Cultural Significance of Biodiversity in Coastal Marine Territories through Plural Knowledges Systems: Advancing the Mission of the Intercultural University of the Peoples", authored by Fátima Alves, Diogo Guedes Vidal, Rosário Rosa*, Helena Freitas*, and Hermano Castro, has just been published in Societal Impacts (Elsevier).

This article proposes an approach to the conservation of coastal marine biodiversity that values traditional, Indigenous, and local knowledge systems as fundamental pillars of participatory, equitable, and effective territorial governance. Rooted in participatory methodologies and a strong connection with coastal communities, the study is part of the process of establishing the Intercultural University of the Peoples (IUP) – a transformative educational project guided by principles of epistemic justice, political ecology, collective health, and the plurality of knowledge.

The research is developed within the framework of the project "Empowering Traditional Communities to Address Health and Environmental Inequalities: Cooperation for Healthy and Sustainable Socio-Ecological Futures", a postdoctoral programme in Public Health and Environment at the National School of Public Health (ENSP) of the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ); and the Associated Project of the Centre for Functional Ecology at the University of Coimbra and its Extension at the Open University, of the Marangatu Network – Citizen Science Network for Territorial Governance and Promotion of Policies for the Preservation and Enhancement of Coastal Marine Sociobiodiversity, funded by CNPq call 07/2023 – Line 8: Coastal-Marine Network (no. 33781055000135).

The work is further supported by the following institutions and research units:

• The R&D Unit Centre for Functional Ecology – Science for People & the Planet (reference UIDB/04004/2025), funded by FCT/MCTES through national funds (PIDDAC), with an Extension at Universidade Aberta;
• The Associate Laboratory TERRA (reference LA/P/0092/2020);
• The CAPES-PRINT Institutional Internationalisation Programme of the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), supported by CAPES (reference 88887.832797/2023-00).

The article highlights the importance of recognising the cultural, social, epistemological, and biophysical diversity of coastal territories as a key condition for understanding the drivers of environmental degradation and the impacts of climate change. Grounded in strong collaboration with local communities and territorial knowledge systems, the study aims to contribute to sustainable, culturally rooted public policies committed to the rights of traditional communities.

You can access the full article in Societal Impacts magazine (Elsevier).

* Societies and Environmental Sustainability Research Group at the Centre for Functional Ecology – Science for People & the Planet, TERRA Associated Laboratory at the University of Coimbra and its Extension at Universidade Aberta of Portugal.