Expedition that crosses Paraná from the source to Foz do Iguaçu is what makes the research possible
More than 800 km in length of the Paraná River will be the field of research on sediments that the Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul (UFMS) will carry out from the 20th of September. Over 19 days, water samples will be collected at 24 pre-selected points with the objective of increasing knowledge about the characteristics of the sediments transported by the Paraná River in order to contribute to the conservation of this water system.
According to the researcher and coordinator of the Physical Geography/Geomorphology area at UMFS, Frederico dos Santos Gradella, sedimentological characterizations of rivers can indicate the impacts of land uses on their hydrographic basins. "This is due, therefore, the use of the soils in an inadequate way leads to an increase in the sedimentary discharge in the fluvial systems", he emphasizes.
Environmentalists from the NGO Rio Paraná emphasize the importance of research as an instrument to shed light on the human activities suffered by the Paraná River in an integrated way, assess the consequences and transform the information into public policies to protect the river. "The Paraná River is going through its worst historical moment on record, we want to emphasize its importance not only as an energy and economic engine, but as one of the most plundered water arteries over the last century", warns the vice president and founder of Ong, Raphael Primos.
The team of specialists that integrates the Travessia do Bem, an expedition that will cross 830 kilometers of the Paraná River over 30 days, will be responsible for collecting the samples that will be analyzed by the University's laboratory. According to the creator of the project, Marcelo Figueiral, “Travessia do Bem on the Paraná River is much more than an adventure. It is a unique opportunity to capture information on sustainable producers, to map regional initiatives based on the circular and regenerative economy to identify alternatives for income generation. And with the analysis of these data, the crossing could become a watershed for the economy along the Paraná River”.