Evaluation of Coastal Erosion in the Watersheds of Municipality of Buenaventura, Colombia: Using Geospatial Techniques and the Composite Vulnerability Index

Abstract

Buenaventura on the Colombian Pacific coast has experienced a wide range of threats, mainly due to the effects of coastal erosion and flooding. Globally, millions of people will experience increased vulnerability in the coming decades due to climate change. The change in the coastline (1986–2020) over time was analyzed with remote sensors and the Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS) in conjunction with GIS. A total of 16 indicators were selected to quantitatively evaluate exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity to construct a composite vulnerability index (COVI). The endpoint rate (EPR) of the change in the coastline was estimated. The results showed that 35% of the study area was stable, 18% of the coastline experienced erosion processes, and 47% experienced accretion. The COVI analysis revealed that coastal watersheds show great spatial heterogeneity; 31.4% of the area had moderate vulnerability levels, 26.5% had low vulnerability levels, and 41.9% had high vulnerability levels. This analysis revealed that the watersheds located in the northern (Málaga Bay) and central (Anchicaya, Cajambre, and Rapposo basins) parts of the coastal zone were more vulnerable than the other areas.