RT null T1 Brazil Current: GIWA Regional Assessment 39 A1 United Nations Environment Programme, A1 University of Kalmar, A2 Marques, M. A2 Knoppers, B. A2 Lanna, A. E. A2 Abdallah, P. R. A2 Polette, M. K1 natural resource K1 resource conservation K1 resource management K1 water K1 water analysis K1 water conservation K1 water consumption K1 water demand K1 water management K1 water monitoring K1 water protection K1 water quality K1 water resource K1 water utilisation K1 environmental assessment K1 freshwater conservation K1 freshwater degradation K1 freshwater ecosystem K1 freshwater monitoring K1 freshwater pollution K1 freshwater resource K1 pollution control K1 pollution cost K1 water pollution K1 environmental conservation K1 environmental impact K1 environmental impact assessment K1 environmental protection K1 coast protection K1 coastal area K1 coastal ecosystem K1 coastal environment K1 coastal pollution K1 coastal water K1 marine conservation area K1 marine ecosystem K1 sea resource K1 sea water protection K1 coastal fishing K1 coastal management K1 river basin development K1 river management K1 water resources conservation K1 water resources development K1 transboundary pollution K1 environmental pollution SN 1651-9404 YR 2004 FD 2004 LK https://wedocs.unep.org/handle/20.500.11822/8804 UL https://wedocs.unep.org/handle/20.500.11822/8804 NO This report presents the assessment of the GIWA region Brazil Current, including drainage basins and their associated coastal/marine zones. Three separate sub-regions have been assessed within the region: the South/Southeast Atlantic Basins, East Atlantic Basins, and So Francisco River Basin. Increased anthropogenic pressures due to economic development and urbanisation in the coastal area have polluted the water environment and caused severe impact on important ecosystems such as coastal plains and mangrove ecosystems. Significant changes in the suspended solids transport/sedimentation dynamics in the river basins due to unsustainable land use practices associated to intense deforestation and damming has caused increasing erosion of coastal zones, siltation of riverbeds, and modified the stream flows resulting in periods of water scarcity and flooding in some basins. The root causes of pollution and habitat and community modification are identified for the bi-national Mirim Lagoon Basin, a transboundary freshwater body shared between Brazil and Uruguay, and Doce River Basin that hosts biomes of global importance. Potential remedial policy options are presented. DS UN Environment Document Repository RD Sep 24, 2026