Evaluation of coastal vulnerability for the District of Buenaventura, Colombia: A geospatial approach

Abstract

The District of Buenaventura is in the west of Colombia and of vital importance for the country in many aspects. Apart from being a robust economic contributor to the region, and the country, because of its ports, tourists and biodiversity, it is the urban nucleus with the largest population in the Colombian Pacific. It has a varied coastline with several types of the geomorphological elements ranging from hills with cliffs, extensive mangrove plains to barriers islands with beach fronts forming most of the coastline. This study applied the coastal vulnerability index (CVI) using eight variables, three physical/hydrodynamical, three geological/geomorphological, and two socioeconomic variables, which are as follows: Rate of Sea Level Rise, Mean Tidal Range, Significant Wave Height, Shoreline Change Rate, Geomorphology, Regional Coastal Slope, Land Use and Coverage, Population – coastal settlements and economic activities, respectively. The variables considered are parameters of relative vulnerability and are evaluated using the geographic information system (GIS) and remote sensing procedures, employing a geospatial approach. The littoral was classified into five ranges of relative vulnerability, evaluating 276 sections; 19.57% (54 km) is in the range of very high vulnerability, 19.93% (55 km) in the high vulnerability range, 19.20% (53 km) in the moderate vulnerability range, 21.01% (58 km) in the low vulnerability range, and 20.29% (56 km) in the very low vulnerability range. These results can be used as an essential tool allowing decision-makers to establish management measures aiming to reduce risks and for communities to adapt to future changes in the face of the relative rise in sea level.