To develop research to quantify the transport, transformations and fate of sediments, organic matter, nutrients and trace metals at the continent-ocean interface along the east-northeastern coast of Brazil and its interactions with economic chains and natural processes.

To consolidate the results obtained under the scope of the Instituto do Milênio Estuários (www.institutomilenioestuarios.com.br) is showing similarities and differences on contamination and euthrophication processes and carrying capacities of estuarine ecosystem and the sustainable management of their coastal zone goods and services in face of changes in land use and global climate.

Contribute with minimizing regional dissimilarities by supporting a strong program in capacity building at all levels of education and training. Make accessible to the society all results obtained in the study in a way which make them understandable to all levels and therefore able to be used to drawn consistent scenarios of sustainable development of the coastal zone in the reality of the Antropoceno.

This proposal does not attend a single subject among the induced areas. On the contrary, it brings the necessary interdisciplinary to understand the controlling processes regulating the transfer of materials at the land-ocean interface at the coastal zone and its interactions with water resources, biodiversity, global and regional changes and their related aspects to productive activities and the sustainable utilization of the coastal zone in the Anthropocene, including their environmental impacts.

The proposal is a natural continuation and consolidation of the studies and capacity building efforts under the scope of the Instituto do Milênio Project (420.050/2005-1), (www.insitutomilenioestuarios.com.br).