Determination of a Risk and Vulnerability Index in Function to the Physicochemical Quality of Marine-Coastal Surface Waters and Socioeconomic Factors: Case Study Isla Colón, Bocas del Toro

The impact caused by human activities turns the coast zones in vulnerable areas. That's why it emerges the need to develop a risk and vulnerability index. The objective of the investigation is to determine a risk index and vulnerability in function of the sea-coast superficial waters and socioeconomic factors in Isla Colon. The methodology got divided in three parts: determination of a sea Water quality, the threat analysis and vulnerabilities. As a result, it was obtained that the quality of Isla Colon coast zone water is a good quality and it is classified as a threat of anthropogenic type, with respect to flood and landslide threats the threat degree is 2. Analyzing the threats, it can be observed that the physic and environmental ones are in a moderated rank, the educational and the socioeconomic ones are in a low rank. In total the vulnerability is 2.6; therefore, it is obtained that that the risk and vulnerability index is 2.6. In conclusion Isla Colon presents a high vulnerability degree, it is recommended to implement mitigation and awareness measurements to the poblation to avoid that threats be of a higher impact, causing Major disasters and avoiding the resources contamination.