Area of Study: Coastal Lagoons

Project: Urban Lagoons – Ways to Urban Development explores the environmental pressures affecting Uruguay’s coastal lagoons. The project assigned involved exploring the past, highlighting how these lagoons formed when ancient oceans receded, leaving behind sand barriers. These lagoons, including José Ignácio, Garzón, Rocha, and Castillos, serve as biodiversity hotspots, providing refuge and breeding grounds for various species. They also regulate coastal ecosystems by influencing temperature, salinity, and nutrient flow.

I investigated the present environmental and conservation challenges these ecosystems face. Despite being protected areas, these fragile ecosystems face contamination, eutrophication, and unchecked urban expansion. José Ignácio, though rich in biodiversity, is not part of the National System of Protected Areas. Garzón, protected since 2014, suffers from human pressure, while Rocha, a large lagoon known for its biodiversity, has been safeguarded since 2010. Urbanization and weak territorial planning threaten both biodiversity and traditional communities.

The information I gathered during the fieldwork and interviews, allowed me to propose potential solutions to be implemented in the future. Conservation policies, environmental education, and community engagement are crucial to balancing development and ecosystem protection. Educating younger generations fosters long-term conservation efforts, ensuring a sustainable coexistence between human activities and these vital coastal ecosystems. A holistic approach integrating policy, awareness, and intergenerational responsibility is essential for their preservation.