Coastal-Marine Planning Policies Should Consider Social-Ecological Resilience for Sustainability of Ecosystem-Services

Coastal-Marine policies are recommended to promote sustainability in coastal-marine ecosystems. In Northern Coast of São Paulo State (Brazil), an Ecological-Economic Marine Zoning (EcEMZ), an instrument of Coastal Zone... [ view full abstract ]

Coastal-Marine policies are recommended to promote sustainability in coastal-marine ecosystems. In Northern Coast of São Paulo State (Brazil), an Ecological-Economic Marine Zoning (EcEMZ), an instrument of Coastal Zone Management Policy (CZMP) is active since 2004 and had its revised version published in November/2017. There is a concern that the zoning criteria do not stem from scientific and Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK), but are influenced by political-economic interests. We analyzed qualitatively the EcEMZ zoning criteria (2004-2016) and a comparative table of zones’ social-environmental characteristics, guidelines for management and uses and activities permitted was produced. Twenty-eight hours of committee meetings were recorded to register agreements and conflicts. Maps, reports, and literature were analyzed. CZMP states that the zoning criteria were based on abiotic and biotic structures and functions and, according to uses and activities. However, amongst 20 physical-biotic and socioeconomic criteria listed, only two can be applied to EcEMZ (topography and protected areas). Also, indicates the criteria adopted exclusively to EcEMZ were the breeding areas, the fishing and aquaculture grounds, nautical development, and port infrastructure. It is suitable to affirm that only the first criterion does not follow an economic thought. TEK is not evident in the policy, except by some traditional territories mapped. Scientific knowledge was verified in zoning methodology and diagnostic, however, these criteria were superseded in plenary by economic interests due to asymmetry among stakeholders in a tripartite committee model. Approaching science to ethnoscience is necessary to develop coastal-marine policies based on social-ecological resilience for sustainability of ecosystem-services.