Urban centres and coastal zone definition: Which area should we manage?

Abstract

Coastal areas experience population growth causing impacts on coastal and marine ecosystems. Consequently, recognizing the model of coastal cities development is of great importance for coastal management. This research studies the role of urban areas being one of the main drivers of change, and uses a model for coastal zone delimitation. The methodology of analysis was applied to Santa Catarina State, on the southern coast of Brazil. The model studies the coastal zone as a system, with ecological, social and economic characteristics, obtaining three different geographical units within the Coastal System, shoreland, coastal uplands and coastal-influence lands. Results show that 26% of the Santa Catarina State urban occupation is located on the shoreland, which represents not more than 2% of the State area. This area also concentrates main economic activities, demonstrating the importance of focusing management on the shoreland. The definition of the coastal zone as a system could be applied in other Brazilian states and even to other countries, approximating coastal zone management to the reality.