Re-post: This blog by Melissa Poe appeared on the Coastal Connections Blog on 2/25/2019
With ecosystem goals identified, indicators can be designed to help set operational objectives for marine management. That is, what do we hope to protect or restore for people’s quality of life and well-being? For example, the Puget Sound Partnership has developed its Vital Signs, for recovery of Puget Sound. The human well-being vital signs, or targets, are to restore the ecosystem so that regional populations can enjoy safe shellfish beds, access to local harvestable foods, clean water, a sense of place and good governance, among other goals.
Another way that human well-being indicators are used is to assess the ecosystem (which includes people!) The Washington Marine Spatial Plan, for example, required that socioeconomic information be used in an integrated ecosystem assessment. To meet this need, Washington Sea Grant social scientists developed a suite of social indicators and assessed changes in Washington’s coastal counties between 2000-2013. These indicators can show where communities might be most vulnerability to environmental or policy changes. They can also be used to help identify priority areas for investing in community resilience and adaptation.
Did you know: A vibrant human quality of life is essential to the success of all of the Implementation Strategies. The Puget Sound Partnership is developing indicators on Sound Stewardship, Sense of Place, Good Governance, Economic Viability, and Cultural Wellbeing to improve our ability to work towards this goal.