Determination of a Risk and Vulnerability Index in Coastal Populations: Case Study Portobelo, Province of Colón

Abstract

The impact caused by human activities makes coastal areas vulnerable areas. This is why the need arises to develop a risk and vulnerability index. The objective of the research is to determine a risk and vulnerability index based on the physicochemical and microbiological quality of the marine-coastal surface waters and socio-economic factors using the coastal city of Portobelo, province of Colon as a case study. The methodology was divided into 3 parts: determination of a coastal marine water quality index, the analysis of threats and vulnerabilities and the presentation of the risk and vulnerability index. As a result, it was obtained that the Marine Water Quality Index was represented by 71.71, a good quality to regulate. Vulnerabilities were determined, physical with a value of 2.0, moderate to low; 2.7, low to moderate educational; socioeconomic from 3.6, moderate to high; and environmental of 3.7, moderate to high. A Risk and Vulnerability index of 3.0 was obtained, considered moderate. The Risk and Vulnerability Index represents a tool that can be considered to determine a value that defines the degree of risk, threat and vulnerability that a coastal community is exposed to and can implement mitigation and awareness measures to the population to prevent threats are of a greater impact, causing major disasters and avoiding the contamination of resources.