CONTENTS Acknowledgement i Table of CONTENTS iii List of Maps v List of Tables vi List of Figures vi List of Pictures vi Annexure vii Executive Summary 1 CHAPTER: 1 INTRODUCTION 1 1.1 Background 1 1.2 Need for the Study 2 1.3 Research Question 3 1.4 Aim and Objectives 4 1.5 Scope and Limitations 4 1.6 Research Methodology 5 1.7 Delineation of Study Area 7 CHAPTER: 2 REVIEW of COASTAL ECOSYSTEMS and ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES 9 2.1 Understanding the Coast and Vulnerability 9 2.2 Ecologically Sensitive Areas of the Coast 10 2.3 Economic Development Activities 13 2.4 Conclusion 15 CHAPTER: 3 VUNERABILITY ASSESSMENT METHODS 17 3.1 Vulnerability Assessment Methods 17 3.2 Spatial Multi-criteria Analysis 17 3.3 Coastal Vulnerability Index (CVI) by USGS 19 3.4 Dynamic Interactive Vulnerability Assessment (DIVA) 20 3.5 D-P-S-I-R Framework 21 3.6 Community Vulnerability Assessment Tool (CVAT) 22 3.7 Conclusion 23 CHAPTER: 4 REVIEW OF ACTS AND POLICIES 25 4.1 Review of Environmental Policies 25 4.2 Review of Sector Development Policies 36 4.3 Inferences - Policies Review 40 4.4 Institutional framework in Coastal Areas 42 CHAPTER: 5 ANALYTICAL FRAMEWORK 50 5.1 Vulnerability Analysis Framework 50 5.2 Indicators 51 5.3 Assessment Tool 56 CHAPTER: 6 STUDY AREA PROFILE - RATNAGIRI 59 6.1 Ratnagiri District Profile 59 6.2 Ratnagiri Taluka Profile 67 CHAPTER: 7 RESULTS OF DATA ANALYSIS 77 7.1 Vulnerability Criteria 77 7.2 Environmental Vulnerability 78 7.3 Socio-economic Vulnerability 84 7.4 Development Potential 90 7.5 Conclusion 90 CHAPTER: 8 MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES 92 8.1 Vulnerability v/s Development Scenarios 92 8.2 Management Regions 98 8.3 Mandatory Strategies for Vulnerability Reduction 100 8.4 Conclusion 102