Tracking progress in coastal management-across the integrated coastal management cycle and indicators

Abstract

This paper presents the framework for assessing progress of coastal management initiatives. The framework is based on the cycle of integrated coastal management (ICM). Each step in the cycle suggests the indicators or self-assessment questions by which progress and learning can be assessed. We worked out and tested in the field self-assessment questions through participation techniques and meetings with a number of stakeholders among local coastal management projects in Thailand. The prime stakeholders comprise community members, local government officers, and coastal management managers. More senior levels of government need to be involved in the progress assessment as well, as they potentially have the capacity for making policy changes and resource allocation decisions that will aid the local stakeholders in achieving integrated coastal management.