Human populations and coastal wetlands: conservation and management in Brazil

This article describes the main factors responsible for the degradation of the coastal areas in Brazil and their impact on coastal population. It also analyses the main policies of the Brazilian government concerning the management of coastal areas, focusing on the shortcomings of the methodologies used. It emphasizes the role of the establishment of marine protected areas, as an important tool for coastal management. Lack of support for coastal management from local communities is a common feature of the proposed approaches. The article also describes local initiatives for coastal management as a positive development for the solution of the ecological and social problems existing in the Brazilian coastal areas.