2026 Reports

Ecosystem-based Adaptation at the Monte Serrat in Santos-SP (Brazil)

Prado Gutiérrez, Eduardo; Barbi Seleguim, Fabiana

The biggest coastal city in the State of São Paulo (Brazil), Santos has a long history of prevention of risks related to climate variability. Recently, the risk of landslides caused by rainfall has been increasing in hillside areas where there has been an expansion of informal settlements in the last decades, reinforcing a trend of deforestation of native rainforest vegetation. To mitigate such risks, the overall adaptation strategy includes an ongoing pilot project focused on ecosystem-based adaptation in the central hill of Monte Serrat, an area home to more than 1,300 residents. Involving vegetation recovery by planting of native species and also resettlement and ‘gray adaptation’ measures such as construction of stepped spillways, these measures can generate knowledge regarding procedures for effectively involving the local community and observing gender perspectives and human rights. If successful, it will be replicated along other hillside areas of the city.