Portal online para catalogar espécies exóticas invasoras em comunidades rurais do RN

Invasive alien species are one of the main causes of biodiversity loss on a global scale. When introduced into environments outside their natural range, these organisms have a high capacity for adaptation, reproduction and dispersal, causing significant impacts on biodiversity, the economy and environmental health. In Brazil, especially in Rio Grande do Norte, the problem has gained prominence due to the diversity of affected habitats and the associated socio-environmental consequences. In this context, the present research aimed to develop an educational platform to catalog invasive species in the state of Rio Grande do Norte, with the purpose of promoting awareness and environmental education in the region. Initially, an electronic questionnaire was applied via Google Forms to 30 participants from the municipalities of São Miguel and Pau dos Ferros, belonging to the state of Rio Grande do Norte. These were chosen for their ecological representativeness and the potential impacts of invasive species in the region. This stage identified the level of knowledge of the population and their expectations regarding conservation initiatives. The results revealed a significant lack of information and awareness about invasive species, but also a high interest from the community in participating in actions to combat their effects. This scenario highlights the importance of associating environmental education with practical and accessible tools. In response, a digital platform was developed, designed in Figma. The implementation used HTML, CSS and JavaScript on the front-end, and Django on the back-end. The website provides up-to-date information on invasive species in the state, their impacts and control methods, in addition to encouraging community participation through collaborative cataloging and monitoring of these species. As a final product, the website stood out as an innovative educational tool, centralizing relevant data and facilitating knowledge sharing. This approach promoted environmental awareness and engagement among citizens, educational institutions and environmental organizations. For the future, it is recommended to improve the platform with interactive features, such as dynamic maps for geographic visualization of species, educational sections aimed at students and tools for recording new occurrences. These improvements can consolidate the website as a regional reference, strengthen joint actions between society and environmental conservation agencies and value local biodiversity.