First Mega Submarine Tunnel in Brazil Will Cause Deforestation of 105,000 Square Meters of Atlantic Forest; On the Other Hand, BRL 6 Billion Project Will Create 9,000 Jobs

Written by Alisson Ficher

Published on 14/01/2025 at 00:52

A construção do túnel Santos-Guarujá ameaça Mata Atlântica e vida marinha, com riscos de desmatamento e poluição das águas costeiras.

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The First Underwater Tunnel in Brazil Promises More Mobility for the Region, but Brings Serious Environmental Impacts. With the Deforestation of Mangroves and Protected Areas of the Atlantic Forest, the Project Threatens Marine Life and Compromises Air and Water Quality, Worrying Experts and Local Residents.

The project of the first underwater tunnel in Brazil, expected to connect the cities of Santos and Guarujá, awakens much curiosity and hope for improving local mobility.

But behind this major infrastructure project, which promises to be a solution for traffic in the region, there is an environmental and social price that worries experts and residents.

The impacts range from the deforestation of protected areas of the Atlantic Forest to the risk of contamination of coastal waters, threatening marine life and even tourism.

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Environmental Impact and Deforestation

As detailed in the Environmental Impact Report (Rima) prepared by the Fundação Instituto de Pesquisas Econômicas (FIPE) at the request of the State Government, the construction of the tunnel predicts the deforestation of 105 thousand square meters of Atlantic Forest, including mangroves and restinga vegetation at different stages of preservation.

This number is equivalent to approximately ten soccer fields and includes 44 thousand square meters of mangrove, which will be filled in, including areas within the Environmental Protection Area (APA) of Serra de Santo Amaro.

In this location, it will be necessary to deforest 3,640 square meters of mangrove, which worries environmentalists due to the importance of these ecosystems for biodiversity and coastal protection.

The Diário do Litoral highlights that, in addition to the removal of native vegetation, the project could affect the feeding of green turtles (Chelonia mydas), particularly young animals that depend on the availability of algae.

The risk increases as the project progresses and may harm the sustainability of various marine species in the region.

Risk to Marine Life

In addition to the impact on vegetation, the project will bring serious implications for marine fauna.

According to FIPE, the construction will increase water turbidity in the Estuary due to seabed dredging, which will suspend contaminated sediments, including heavy metals discharged by industries in Cubatão over decades.

This movement puts at risk the bathing water quality of the beaches in Santos and the health of the animals that inhabit the region.

The increase in turbidity, according to the Diário do Litoral, also raises the risk of collisions of dolphins, porpoises, and whales with vessels, as reduced visibility hinders safe navigation for these animals.

For tourists and local residents, the project presents an indirect threat to ecotourism, as interaction with marine life and environmental preservation are attractions in the region.

Tunnel and the Problems of Pollution and Dust

Another point of concern highlighted in the Rima is the levels of air and water pollution that may increase with the construction.

The document explains that the project will generate a significant amount of suspended dust due to excavations, demolitions, and transportation of materials.

Additionally, the use of asphalt and chemical mixtures for paving access roads will increase the emission of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and sulfur dioxide (SO2), pollutants that directly affect air quality in Santos and Guarujá.

The Diário do Litoral points out that the noise and vibrations from the machines will be felt in the vicinity of the construction site, impacting the tranquility and quality of life of residents in nearby neighborhoods.

FIPE also warns that these noises may cause subsidence in neighboring properties, leading to structural damages and concerns for the local population.

Contamination of the Aquifer

FIPE warns of the risk of contamination of the aquifer in the region, a problem that may have long-term effects on the environment and public health.

According to the report, the sediments removed during the dredging process and the installation of the concrete tunnel modules contain heavy materials that can penetrate the soil and compromise the quality of groundwater.

The possibility of aquifer contamination is an aspect that Cetesb, the agency responsible for environmental licensing, will have to monitor closely throughout the construction.

According to the Diário do Litoral, this risk is a concern not only for environmental protection agencies but also for the population that uses groundwater for household consumption.

Interruption of Port Activities

During the construction stages, traffic in the Estuary Canal will be partially restricted.

The tunnel project predicts the installation of cellular modules and backfill to ensure the safety of the structure.

However, this temporary interruption may affect port logistics, requiring cargo to be redirected to other ports in Southeast and South Brazil.

According to the Diário do Litoral, this redistribution may generate extra costs for companies and interfere with the working routine of the port of Santos, one of the busiest in the country.

The Future of the Project and Ongoing Analyses

The Environmental Impact Report prepared by FIPE brings together nine specialists, including engineers, biologists, sociologists, and geologists.

The document is under analysis by Cetesb, which is conducting public consultations and receiving contributions to assess the environmental conditions of the project.

In a statement, the State Department of Partnerships in Investments stated that “the environmental impact studies related to the Santos-Guarujá Tunnel are being analyzed by Cetesb within the scope of the public consultation, based on contributions received in the hearings and recent updates to the project”.

Given the controversies and environmental concerns, the Santos-Guarujá tunnel raises the question: to what extent is it worth sacrificing natural resources and compromising marine life and public health to ensure improvements in infrastructure?

What other alternatives could meet the region’s mobility needs without compromising the ecosystem?

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Eric Rodrigues

#115550

19/01/2025 22:40

Desmatar O QUE?
Casas e. Santos, favela no Guarujá, e além do mas esse túnel vai sair no século XXV

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Luiz Henrique

#114018

16/01/2025 09:33

Já que o túnel vai prejudicar o meio ambiente e a população, o Brasil tem engenheiros para o conhecimento para construir uma ponte, a mesma que a da ponte Niterói RJ, isto é na época o conhecimento em tecnologia era baixa..VAI BRASIL

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Rafael Wiak

#113811

16/01/2025 00:35

Será que foram os donos da balsa que lucram 1 bi por ano que escreveram o artigo? Kkkk

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First Mega Submarine Tunnel in Brazil Will Cause Deforestation of 105,000 Square Meters of Atlantic Forest; On the Other Hand, BRL 6 Billion Project Will Create 9,000 Jobs

Environmental Impact and Deforestation

Risk to Marine Life

Tunnel and the Problems of Pollution and Dust

Contamination of the Aquifer

Interruption of Port Activities

The Future of the Project and Ongoing Analyses

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First Mega Submarine Tunnel in Brazil Will Cause Deforestation of 105,000 Square Meters of Atlantic Forest; On the Other Hand, BRL 6 Billion Project Will Create 9,000 Jobs

Environmental Impact and Deforestation

Risk to Marine Life

Tunnel and the Problems of Pollution and Dust

Contamination of the Aquifer

Interruption of Port Activities

The Future of the Project and Ongoing Analyses

The Soviet Union spent 22 years drilling into the Earth’s crust and reached a depth of 12,262 meters — they found water where it was thought impossible, hydrogen bubbling from the rock, granite that is 2.7 billion years old, and temperatures of 180 degrees that melted the drill bits.

Gaddafi built the world’s largest artificial river under the Sahara — it’s 4,000 km of giant pipes that pump 40,000-year-old fossil water to entire cities in Libya.

Discovery in Africa scares even scientists: a study published on April 23 reveals that the crust in Turkana has become so thin that it could pave the way for the continent’s division and the emergence of an ocean in the future, in a gigantic geological transformation.

A German architect built a cylindrical house in 1994 that rotates to follow the sun throughout the day, generates 5 times more energy than it consumes, and was the world’s first energy-positive house.

A company that drilled for oil has drilled 4.8 kilometers of rock in Utah and found a never-ending heat of 290 degrees — now it is building the world’s first next-generation commercial geothermal power plant, with 100 MW connected to the grid in June 2026.

Brazil spent R$ 1.9 billion on a giant bridge to Paraguay, and it is already finished, but no one can use it properly because the access points are not ready, and traffic remains blocked months later.

Brazil enters the era of engineered wood buildings alongside Canada, Sweden, Austria, and Norway, betting on a technology that promises faster construction, fewer emissions, and fire resistance that challenges concrete and steel.

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