Análise de componentes ecológicos, aspectos morfodinâmicos e nível de uso como ferramentas para a gestão integrada das praias arenosas

Abstract

Despite having a delicate ecological balance, the sandy beaches have not been recognized as priority areas for conservation. For a large part of the population that frequents the coastal areas, the sandy beaches appear to be a biologically poor system and valued only for its landscape and recreation aspects. The intense recreational use of beaches and the disorderly occupation of the post-beach area increase the impacts on these environments, altering the deposition of sediments, hindering the displacement of biota and increasing erosive processes, compromising ecosystem functionality. Given this context, it is necessary to carry out studies of indicators that promote staggered coastal management, preserving the balance of ecosystems and maintaining their services, including those considered essential for a human species. Thus, the present work was divided into two stages. The first aimed to discuss how geoenvironmental processes, such as morphodynamic and climatic ones, act on the biodiversity of sandy beaches and how these phenomena can influence the ecosystem balance and the provision of its services. the state of the art of the aforementioned theme, which reinforced, as shown by the results, that the sandy beach, in addition to being a space for recreation and leisure, is also a delicate ecosystem and that its biodiversity is highly exposed, both to physical and climatic factors, regarding anthropogenic impacts. In the second stage, a survey was carried out with the objective of indicating ecological and use limits for the sandy beaches, using Imbassaí Beach as a model. Ten ecological indicators were analyzed, ranging from aesthetic and bathing conditions to the study of biodiversity and ecosystem services. Wave modeling and sediment transport were also evaluated. The results indicated that the sandy beach is affected by coastal dynamics and that its ecosystems have characteristics that favor the maintenance of important services such as support, regulation and production, which increase the quality of services provided to the human species itself, such as recreation and leisure. However, due to the perspective of increased use and occupation of the post-beach, as well as the panorama of future climate changes, especially the rise in sea level, it is necessary to formulate a coastal development model that integrates sandy beaches and that respects the load capacity and its resilience limits. Understanding that beaches are dynamic ecosystems, sensitive to human interference is essential, not only for the conservation of these environments, but also to ensure an orderly occupation of the coastal zone and the quality of services provided by sandy beaches to their users.