Adaptive capacity of vulnerability in tropical estuaries
challenges and directions for environmental governance and democracy
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17271/1980082722120266268Keywords:
Integrated management, Social justice, Community participationAbstract
Objective – To identify the main aspects of adaptive capacity in relation to vulnerability, considering risks or exposure to environmental and anthropogenic threats in tropical estuaries, while highlighting key challenges and directions for environmental management and democracy in this ecosystem.
Methodology – The first methodological stage consisted of a Systematic Literature Review, which enabled the identification, selection, and critical analysis of relevant studies on vulnerability, management, and environmental democracy in tropical estuaries. The second stage involved content analysis in order to categorize and interpret the main findings of the selected publications.
Originality/relevance – This research addresses a theoretical gap concerning the integration of environmental democracy and territorial management in tropical estuaries, a topic still underexplored from a systemic and multi-scalar perspective. Furthermore, the articulation between these themes contributes to the advancement of knowledge in environmental public policy and the governance of complex coastal ecosystems such as estuaries.
Results – Three main aspects were identified: (I) the importance of involving social actors in the creation of integrated and equitable environmental management; (II) the challenges of protecting estuaries, which require understanding their vulnerabilities at different spatial and temporal scales; and (III) the development of territorial management that incorporates efficient monitoring and modeling tools adapted to local (environmental and social) specificities.
Theoretical/methodological contributions – The study highlights the significance of environmental democracy as a central element for socio-ecological resilience in tropical estuaries, emphasizing the need for the active participation of traditional communities in decision-making processes.
Social and environmental contributions – Socially, the study promotes the recognition of traditional knowledge and the strengthening of community capacities for engagement in decision-making. Environmentally, the research offers pathways toward a management approach that is more sensitive to the ecological specificities of estuaries, fostering public policies that are more just, effective, and sustainable in the face of environmental vulnerabilities.
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