Environmental risks in the Coast: comparative study Brazil-Portugal

Abstract

The present study relates the environmental risks in the Coast trough a comparative boarding between towns of the Figueira da Foz (Center of Portugal) and Areia Branca (Northeastern Brazil). The aim was the identification and assessment of environmental risks in an appliance context of territorial planning and management. The methods of study were based on empirical observations in land, contacts with the populations of study areas about the environmental risks and interpretation of satellite images. Most of the identified risks are present in both territories; however their magnitudes and expressions are different. According to the study, it is evident that Areia Branca city shows a better scenario in relation to the environmental risks, probably due to a low occupation throughout the Coast. Nevertheless, as the local tourism is growing, the local coast environment needs must be considered by the occupation planning because it points out some instability. Thus, it is still possible to minimize the future problems reducing the vulnerabilities due to the existing risks. The coast dynamics of Figueira da Foz acts as an important environmental risk specially the South of Mondego’s estuary, because its consolidated occupation has been threatened by the coastal retreat, demanding urgent solutions to mitigate local risks and vulnerabilities; the mobility of the population, for example, may be seen as a solution which obliges to a different territorial organization.