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C  O A S TA L D  E V E L O P M E N T I  N D E X

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What

What Is It?

BENCHMARK

The Coastal Development Index (CDI) is a proposed

Establish the CDI baseline value for the

indicator envisioned to give a "snapshot" of physical

region and/or per municipality across

change due to human activities on the coastal

the region.

the

landscape. This indicator is being designed to

TA R G E T

quantify coastal activities that often translate into a

Maintain a regional CDI value < 0.5,

Maintain

commensurate level of environmental degradation.

as an indication of stabilized and

Although a CDI value for the region is not available

at this time, the following section describes how a

sustainable development of coastal

Coastal Development Index can be developed into a

areas.

useful indicator.

RED FL AG

Why Do We Measure It?

CDI

CDI value is ≥ 0.5.

Coastal development activities, such as aquaculture,

construction or channel dredging, are often associated

with economic benefits but also alteration of the

physical landscape. In coastal areas, such physical

The index also incorporates two parameters to indicate

changes can have significant consequences for the

rates of change:

marine environment. Natural processes such as

freshwater runoff, erosion and sedimentation may

· Coastal land conversion rate -- average percentage

be altered or accelerated in ways that surpass the

per km2 converted from a natural state to a specific

natural tolerance of marine ecosystems.

use over the course of one year; and

The proposed Coastal Development Index provides

· Yearly population growth rate -- based on the most

quantitative, concise information regarding the level

recent available estimates.

of coastal alteration, thereby serving as an indicator of

development-relatedpressuresonmarineecosystems.

All five factors are weighted equally within the index.

Such pressures may require management intervention

Therefore, 60% of the index value is related to the

to mitigate detrimental environmental impacts.

existing coastal footprint, and 40% is attributed to

rate of change.

A time-series of index values (that is, a number of

index "snapshots" taken over a number of years) also

Information about land cover and road density would

provides a measure of the rate of change of the MAR

be obtained through remote sensing. Population data

coastal environment.

are available from governmental census reporting.

How Do We Measure It?

Coastal Development Index scores range from 0 to

1. A score of 0 indicates an unpopulated, unaltered

The CDI incorporates three fundamental parameters

municipality. A score of 1 indicates an area that is

that represent the most salient development-related

at a maximum level of development, having achieved

pressures on the coastal landscape:

or surpassed all critical thresholds. The index is

proposed to be calculated using the following system

· Coastal population density -- number of people per

that is currently under study.

km2;

Index scores can be then compared to a baseline or

· Coastal conversion ratio -- average percentage of

reference year (to be established) to assess relative

land per km2 that is in agricultural use, urbanized, or

change in coastal development pressure.

covered by major infrastructure such as aquaculture

farms, airports or ports; and

· Coastal road density -- total length of roads per km2.

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