Governança portuária e ordenamento territorial em terrenos de marinha na ilha de Upaon-Açu - MA

Abstract

This dissertation analyzes the challenges and opportunities for implementing sustainable port governance on Upaon-Açu Island, Maranhão, considering the specificities of marine terrains and the socio-environmental complexity of the territory. The research adopted a qualitative and interdisciplinary approach, combining systematic literature review (43 studies), document analysis, and empirical case study with 20 key stakeholder interviews. The systematic review identified five main categories of institutional challenges: institutional fragmentation (81%), conflicts of interest (74%), knowledge gaps (67%), participation limitations (58%), and implementation barriers (51%). Simultaneously, five strategies for sustainable governance were mapped: ecosystem-based management, collaborative institutional arrangements, sustainable technologies and infrastructure, innovative economic instruments, and participation and capacity-building mechanisms. The case study revealed the complexity of governance in the São Luís port region, characterized by land conflicts, institutional fragmentation, cumulative socio-environmental impacts, and power asymmetries. As an original contribution, two conceptual frameworks were developed: an integrative one that articulates challenges, complexity processes, and adaptive strategies; and an action-oriented one, with a cyclical implementation process. Guidelines organized into four axes (territorial, institutional, socio-environmental, and participatory) are proposed for a more sustainable governance model, empirically validated in Brazil's largest port complex by cargo volume. The results contribute to the theoretical-conceptual advancement of sustainable port governance and offer practical inputs for public policies and territorial management.