Preface: Ria Formosa. Challenges of a coastal lagoon in a changing environment

This book entitled "RIA FORMOSA. Challenges of a coastal lagoon in a changing environment" is na astonishing exercise of disclosing the main challenges of Ria Formosa, a vital lagoon for the Algarve Region and for Portugal as a whole. Coastal interface areas between sea and land are very important, rich, sensitive and extremely dynamic areas. There are multiple and complex changes that, either by nature or by human action, occur in coastal zones, from erosion to silting phenomena, from changes in currents to floods ... This lagoon system, protected by barrier-islands with dunes, is the support of relevant economic activities. Apparently, these barrier-islands were born in the sea and are in permanent movement, towards the continent. The movement is visible, within a decade, there are areas of sand that are decreasing dangerously and others to gain more sand.