A Handbook for measuring the progress and outcomes of integrated Coastal and Ocean Management.

Abstract

The handbook aims to contribute to the sustainable development of coastal and marine areas by promoting a more out-come-oriented, accountable and adaptive approach to ICOM. It provides a step-by-step guide to help users in developing, selecting and applying a common set of governance, ecological and socioeconomic indicators to measure, evaluate and report on the progress and outcomes of ICOM interventions. Intended as a generic tool with no prescriptive character, the handbook proposes analytical framework and indicators that from the basis for the customized design of sets of indicators. The handbook also includes results, outcomes and lessons learned from eight pilot case studies conducted in several countries. A network of ICOM experts in these countries has also been established. The target audience is wide, and includes coastal and ocean managers, practitioners, evaluations and researchers. The handbook forms part of an IOC toolkit on indicators. Its preparations is part of an effort to promote the development and use of ICOM indicators led by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans of Canada and the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.