In Brazil, the National Coastal Management Plan (PNGC) was established through the Law 7661 of 1988 in order to plan the use of coastal areas. Managing this complexity implies the cooperation between the levels of the government and the society. The health and well-being of the coastal populations, and sometimes even their survival, depend on the status of coastal and marine ecosystems. Besides, most of the world population lives by the sea and there is a permanent trend of demographic concentration in these areas. They deserve special attention from the government and society. Accurate, comprehensive and periodic environmental information is then crucial for the success of the decision-making and environmental planning processes.Ĭoastal zones are characterized by fragile, complex and productive environments, typical of the sea-land system. If a decision is taken without any quality information to back it up, it relies on guesswork. Information is the basis for sustainable development.

Gomez peer zone