Integrating Social-Environmental Systems in Coastal Well-being Assessment: A Blue Dimension Enhancement to the Social Progress Index in Costa Rica and Panama

This research introduces an innovative methodological approach to measuring social progress in coastal communities by integrating a "Blue Dimension" into the traditional Social Progress Index (SPI) framework, creating a comprehensive social-environmental measurement tool. The study focuses on coastal communities in Costa Rica and Panama, incorporating local knowledge systems while emphasizing ocean responsibility and stewardship. The enhanced Blue-SPI framework maintains the original three dimensions of Basic Human Needs, Foundations of Well-being, and Opportunities, while adding a fourth dimension of Blue Sustainability that captures marine-coastal relationships through four key components: coastal governance and management, blue economy, sociocultural connections with the ocean, and climate change adaptation and resilience. Through household surveys in coastal communities across both countries, this research develops an integrated measurement system that bridges the gap between social and environmental indicators, going beyond traditional economic metrics to assess community well-being and environmental stewardship. The methodology synthesizes quantitative metrics with qualitative assessments of traditional ecological knowledge, creating a holistic evaluation framework that acknowledges the intricate relationships between social progress and ecosystem health. Initial findings suggest that the integration of social and environmental systems in measurement frameworks provides a more accurate representation of coastal community well-being, revealing how marine resource sustainability directly influences so, nterventions that promote social progress while ensuring the protection and sustainable use of marine-coastal resources. The study contributes to the growing body of work on alternative progress measures while specifically addressing the unique challenges and opportunities presented by the social-ecological systems in Central American coastal regions.