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H  U M A N D  E V E L O P M E N T I  N D E X (HD I )

SW7

What Is It?

BENCHMARK

Compile necessary data to routinely

The Human Development Index (HDI) is a composite

index that provides a measure of human well-being.

calculate HDI at the coastal municipal

The index takes into account average achievements

level and investigate the relationship

in three basic areas: longevity, knowledge, and

between increasing HDI and

standard of living. This index was developed by the

environmental stewardship.

environmental

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

and is typically applied to countries or sub-national

TA R G E T

political administrative units.

Improve health and education

Improve

Index values range from 0 to 1. Countries with an

infrastructure so there is a measurable

index score greater than 0.8 are considered to be

increase in HDI (with target values to be

at a high level of development. HDI scores between

developed between governments and

0.5 and 0.799 indicate middle human development.

community organizations). Demonstrate

Countries with HDI scores below 0.5 are considered

a positive correlation between

to have low human development 24.

increasing HDI and increased levels of

Why Do We Measure It?

Why

environmental

environmental stewardship.

The HDI is a standard indicator used to measure

RED FL AG

general economic and social development. The

indicator takes into account factors other than

Any

Any decline in HDI (potentially with an

standard economic variables to measure human

associated decline in environmental

well-being. Since the indicator is standardized across

stewardship).

stewardship).

countries, it can be readily used for regional or global

comparisons.

Usefulness

How Do We Measure It?

The HDI is a widely accepted indicator of social well-

The HDI takes into account four variables:

being. It is easy to measure, replicate and compare

among countries. The HDI is more strongly linked to

· Life expectancy at birth;

social issues than to environmental issues, but there

is a tendency for countries with healthier, better-

· Adult literacy rate;

educated and higher-income populations (i.e. higher

· Combined primary, secondary, and tertiary gross

HDI values) to have higher levels of environmental

enrollment ratio (the percentage of individuals in

protection.

the population within the age group corresponding

It is also probable that HDI levels among coastal

to school level that are enrolled in school); and

communities dependent on the marine environment

· Gross  domestic  product  (GDP)

per

capita

for their livelihoods will be higher when reef resources

(purchasing power parity in $US).

are abundant and marine activities are profitable. A

decline in HDI trends in coastal municipalities may be

These variables are transformed into three indices,

an indicator of a decline in resource abundance and

each with a value between 0 and 1: a Life Expectancy

reef health.

Index; an Education Index (the average of an adult

Status

literacy index and a gross enrollment index); and a

GDP index. The HDI then represents the average of

As of 2003, Mexico was at a relatively high level

these three general indices:

of human development. Belize, Honduras and

Guatemala all fell within the medium category of

HDI = Life Expectancy Index + Education Index + GDP Index

human development. National indicators show an

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