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Coastal Protection
PRESERVING HABITATS THAT SAFEGUARD SHORES
Global Goal Score

What is This?

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0 10 20

Likely Future State

Goal By Country

+ %

*The estimate of a goals likely near-term future status is a function of four dimensions: Status, Trend, Pressure, and Resilience.

How Does Your Country Compare?

What Does This Score Mean?

The reference point for Coastal Protection compares the current extent and condition of five key habitats that protect coastlines (mangrove forests, seagrass meadows, salt marshes, tropical coral reefs, and sea ice) from flooding and erosion relative to their condition in the early 1980's. A score of 100 would indicate that these habitats are all still intact or have been restored to the condition they were in during the early 1980s. Any score below 100 indicates that these habitats have declined in coverage or in health since then, with lower scores indicating more significant declines.

Current Score
The current score of 73 indicates that although, in many places, these habitats remain healthy and intact, the extents of all five habitats have been substantially reduced or degraded when compared to the early 1980s reference years.

N/A

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

Why Is Coastal Protection Important?

Coral reefs, mangroves, seagrasses, salt marshes, and sea ice act as natural buffers against incoming waves. By protecting against storm damage, flooding, and erosion, these living habitats keep people safe and can help mitigate economic loss of personal and public property, cultural landmarks and natural resources. This goal assesses the amount of protection provided by marine and coastal habitats by measuring the area they cover now relative to the area they covered in the recent (~1980s) past.

John Bourgeosis

Download Infographic

How Is It Measured?
Present Status
Present Status is a goal's current value (based on the most recent available data) compared to a reference point.

EACH GOAL IS EVALUATED ON THE BASIS OF FOUR DIMENSIONS.

Trend
Trend is the average percent change in the present status for the most recent 5 years of data.

Pressures
Pressures are the sum of the ecological and social pressures that negatively affect scores for a goal.

Resilience
Resilience is the sum of the ecological factors and social initiatives (policies, laws, etc) that can positively affect scores for a goal by reducing or eliminating pressures.

Pressures
Chemical Pollution

Pressures are human-caused stressors that influence both ecological and social systems, negatively affecting the ability of a goal to deliver its benefits to people.

Nutrient Pollution

Social Pressure

Alien Species

Sea Surface Temperature

Ocean Acidification

Habitat Destruction Hard Bottom Subtidal

UV Radiation

Habitat Destruction Intertidal

Status
Mangroves Extent Sea Ice Condition

Status refers to the current value of a goal relative to its goal-specific reference point. The reference point is the best condition for a goal that can reasonably be achieved; it is a target to aim for when taking actions to improve ocean health.

Seagrass Extent

Seagrass Condition

Salt Marsh Extent

Coral Reefs Condition

Resilience
CBD Habitat

Resilience refers to the social, institutional, and ecological factors that positively affect the ability of a goal to deliver its benefits to people.

Marine Protected Areas Coastal

Quality Of Governance

CBD Water

References
FAO, The World's Mangroves 1980-2005, Global Forest Resource Assessment, 2007. FAO. The Role of Coastal Forests in the Mitigation of Tsunami Impacts. RAP, Bangkok. 2007.

Featured Stories
Faces Of OHI Faces Of OHI

Mighty Mangroves
August 13, 2012

Coastal Protection: Oceans In Focus

August 09, 2012

PHOTO(S): MARK MOFFETT/MINDEN PICTURES/National Geographic Stock

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