Environmental governance in marine protected areas: the context of the Fernando de Noronha archipelago, Brazil

Abstract

Marine protected areas are part of a global biodiversity conservation strategy, since these areas have high biological richness and are the basis for different ecosystem services. On many islands and archipelagostourism is the main economic activity, taking advantage of the results of a protected environment. However, uncontrolled tourism has become the main cause of degradation and destruction in island ecosystems, being a direct consequence offailures in the governance of thesespaces. In this context, the present study aimed to analyze the environmental governance in the Fernando de Noronha Archipelago (Brazil). Data were collected through direct observation and interviews with key actors, and analyzed using the Policy Analysis approach and the MACTOR software. The results obtained suggest that on the main island (the only inhabited), paradise is replaced by serious socio-environmental conflicts, characterized by typically urban environmental problems and political disputes between social actors. Poor management, the lack of integration between institutions and non-compliance with environmental restrictions can lead to a situation of collapse in social, environmental and economic terms in the archipelago.