Geographic aspects and the management of coastal environments: a focus on the “Parnaíba Delta Resex”

Abstract

The mean objective is to analyze the environmental management in the “Parnaíba Delta Resex”, emphasizing how its geographical aspects are relevant to protected areas of the Maranhão coastal zone. The paper is based on descriptive qualitative approach, hypothetical-deductive method and methodological procedures. The results showed that the “Parnaíba Delta Resex” has it’s origins in Cenozoic sedimentary, composed flood fluvial-marine plains; mobile and fixed dunes and beaches environments. The climate is subhumid tropical; the vegetation is composed of mangroves interspersed by “apicuns”, vegetation of dunes and spots of “carnauba”. The soils are gleysol (orthictic and sodium thiomorphic) and quartzenetic orthoses with low natural fertility. The existence of legal provisions on the management of the coastal zone aims to plan and manage in an integrated and decentralized manner the planning of the occupation and use of the study area. The “Parnaíba Delta Resex” does not have the Management Plan, but it has the Emergency Instrument for Uses Ordinance that indicates the activities and prohibitions on the use of the available natural resources. There is also the work of the Deliberative Council and ecotourism programs that also contribute to the management of the study area.