René A. Tano¹, Angora Aman^2*, Elisée Toualy², Yves K. Kouadio², Bouo Bella Djézia François-Xavier¹, Kwasi Appeaning Addo³

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¹ Laboratory of Fundamental and Applied Physics, Nangui Abrogoua University, Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire.
² Climate Tropical Team, Laboratory of Atmospheric Physics and Fluid Mechanics, Felix Houphouet Boigny University of Cocody, Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire.
³ Institute for Environment and Sanitation Studies, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.
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Abstract: This study assesses the vulnerable state of the 566-km Ivorian coastal area using the physical (geomorphology, coastal slope, coastal retreat rate, relative sea level rise and wave/Tide energy) and socio-economic (coastal population density, harbor, airport, road, land use and protected area) factors as indicators. This enabled an Integrated Coastal Vulnerability Index to be determined for the Ivorian coastal zone. This Index could be defined as the weighted average of indexes based on physical and socio-economic factors. The study revealed that vulnerability of the western and the eastern coastlines of Cote d’Ivoire are strongly influenced by human activities, while physical forcing affects significantly the vulnerability of the central section. The relative vulnerability of the different sections depends also strongly on the geomorphology, wave energy, coastal population density and land use factors. The west and central sections of the coastline are more resilient than the eastern section when integrating physical and socio-economic factors. The Integrated Coastal Vulnerability Index, based on physical and socio-economic factors, appears to be more appropriate for coastal vulnerability assessment. These results could be useful in the development of adaptation strategies to increase the resilience of this coastal area and then extended for West Africa Coastal Areas Management.

Keywords: Integrated Coastal Vulnerability Index, Ivorian Coast, Socio-Economic Pressure, Physical Forcing

Cite this paper: Tano, R. , Aman, A. , Toualy, E. , Kouadio, Y. , François-Xavier, B. and Addo, K. (2018) Development of an Integrated Coastal Vulnerability Index for the Ivorian Coast in West Africa. Journal of Environmental Protection, 9, 1171-1184. doi: 10.4236/jep.2018.911073.

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