A Reference Guide on the Use of Indicators for Integrated Coastal Management.

Abstract

This first issue is devoted to the use of indicators for ICAM, and is a direct result of the IOC-DFO-NOAA-CSMP International Workshop on the same topic, organised in May 2002, in Ottawa. Based on a background paper prepared by the Center for the Study of Marine Policy (University of Delaware) in preparation for the workshop, the aim of this Reference Guide is to present a literature review on the use of indicators around the world, from various programmes and projects, at global, regional, national and local scale.The need for indicators and reporting techniques which reflects the performance of coastal management projects and programmes and reveals the complex relationship that exist between coastal ecosystem health and anthropogenic activities, socio-economic conditions and managerial decisions, has been reinforced recently by the World Summit on Sustainable Development’s Plan of Implementation. This Dossier will hopefully offer a first step towards the development of common practices and protocols in the application of such indicators.