Conservation and Integrated Management of Marine and Coastal Biodiversity

laufendes projekt

ContextWith an extension of 8.500 km, the Brazilian coast is among the longest in the world, In addition to the world’s most extensive continuous mangroves, the Brazilian coast also contains exceptional ecosystems such as dunes, lagoons, islands, sandbanks and estuaries. The marine area covers 3,6 million km², equivalent to 40% of the Brazilian territory. It shelters numerous endemic species as well as the only coral reef in the South Atlantic. Despite its biodiversity, the Brazilian coast is considered one of the most threatened regions in the country.Approximately 51 million people (27% of the population) live at the Brazilian coast, 16 of the 28 metropolises are located here and more than half of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is produced here. This intense human occupation, as well as industrial installations and ports, gas and petroleum extraction, land and water use conflicts, marine litter and pollution, and lack of integrated coastal and marine management threaten environmental quality and biodiversity conservation at the Brazilian coast.ObjectiveThe conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity has improved in the regions Costa dos Corais and Abrolhos as a result of integrated coastal and marine management.ApproachThe project adopts an integrated approach to environmental planning for coastal and marine areas, implements measures for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and promotes monitoring strategies to analyse environmental quality. In addition, the project supports institutional development by promoting trainings and other capacity-development measures, as well as by strengthening regional networks. Lessons learned and project experiences are disseminated nationally and internationally to strengthen and improve relevant national and state policies. Since 2019, the project works with the theme of combating marine litter.The project is implemented especially in two coastal regions, Costa dos Corais and Abrolhos. These regions were selected based on their unique ecosystems as well as their importance for the conservation and sustainable use of coastal and marine biodiversity.TerraMar implements project activities in collaboration with the governments of the states of Alagoas, Pernambuco, Bahia and Espírito Santo as well as with municipalities, civil society organisations, the private sector and other stakeholders operating in the marine and coastal zone. TerraMar also cooperates closely with other coastal and marine conservation projects, especially GEF-Mar, a Global Environment Facility project for the expansion of marine protected areas.

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