A method for the participatory design of an indicator system as a tool for local coastal management

This paper proposes a method for the participatory design of an indicator system as a tool for coastal management at village level. The method includes three phases: (1) a participatory process where stakeholders have the opportunity to decide the orientation of the indicator system and to define indicators, (2) the design of a hierarchical indicator structure based on the derivation of principles and criteria from stakeholder priorities and (3) a filtering process for the selection of stakeholder-defined indicators that can reflect the viability and performance of the coastal region. A case study in the Braganca coastal region of northern Brazil is presented to illustrate the method's applicability. The resultant hierarchical indicator system design includes four principles, I I criteria and 35 indicators linked to the environmental, social, governance and economic dimensions. The indicator system can be used as a tool for measuring changes and to influence local ICM policies. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.