近日，由福建海洋可持续发展研究院（简称：闽海院）院长薛雄志教授领衔完成的“‘海丝’沿线国家海岸带可持续发展能力指数评价”研究成果，以“Integrated indicator assessment of coastal sustainable development capacity: Informing policy and prioritizing management actions in developing countries”为题在国际主流期刊 Ocean & Coastal Management 正式发表。该期刊是海洋与海岸带管理领域公认的权威学术期刊，长期聚焦海岸带治理、海洋政策、可持续管理与人地系统耦合研究，在国际学术界和政策研究领域具有广泛影响力。
在全球气候变化加剧、海岸带开发压力持续上升的背景下，如何科学、系统地评估不同国家海岸带可持续发展的能力，是国际学术界与政策界共同关注的重要议题。该成果是闽海院围绕服务国家海洋强国战略与“21世纪海上丝绸之路”绿色发展持续推进的重要科研进展，充分展示了闽海院在海岸带可持续发展综合评估、指标体系构建及国际学术研究方面的系统积累与研究实力。
聚焦发展中国家，彰显闽海院研究特色与国际视野
发展中国家海岸带区域既是人口、产业和基础设施高度集聚的关键空间，也是生态系统脆弱、发展矛盾集中的前沿区域。然而，长期以来，国际上针对海岸带尺度的可持续发展评价工具仍较为有限，尤其缺乏能够兼顾环境、社会与经济系统、并具备跨国可比性的综合指标体系。
在中国海洋发展基金会的支持下，闽海院组织跨学科研究团队，系统整合多源遥感数据、国际权威统计数据库与可持续发展理论框架，构建了海岸带可持续发展能力指数（Capacity Index of Sustainable Coastal Development, CISCD）。该指数以多个“海丝”沿线发展中国家为研究对象，从大气、陆地、海洋、淡水、生物多样性、社会发展与经济发展七个主题出发，对海岸带可持续发展能力进行定量评估，形成了具有清晰理论基础、稳定方法路径和良好国际可比性的综合评价体系，系统展现了闽海院在海岸带综合研究领域的原创性探索。
图1. CISCD指标体系构建框架
Fig 1. Conceptual Framwork of the CISCD Indicator System
国际同行认可，验证指标体系的严谨性与可拓展性
该研究在国际期刊评审过程中，获得了领域内专家的积极认可。专家对研究框架、指标体系构建给予了高度评价，认为这项工作在发展中国家的海岸带可持续发展能力分析方面做出了重要贡献，充分肯定了研究在方法体系、科学严谨性以及国际适用性方面的价值，也表明该指数框架具备进一步拓展至更多沿海国家和区域的潜力。
图2. 41个研究国家的海岸带区域CISCD综合得分及各主题得分分布图（以海岸带向陆一侧着色示意）
Fig 2. Map of the CISCD and individual theme scores per country. (The coastal zones of 41 developing countries were assessed and are shown in the map.)
强化成果转化，为区域海岸带治理与SDGs评估提供科学支撑
作为闽海院在海岸带可持续发展领域的重要研究成果之一，该项目不仅拓展了相关理论与方法，也为政策研究和实践应用提供了量化工具基础，研究成果可为海岸带综合管理、可持续发展目标（SDGs）评估等议题提供科学支撑。
下一步，闽海院将继续依托该指数框架，充分发挥厦门大学与中国海洋发展基金会共建的“海岸带可持续发展能力建设实验室”的研究基地功能，深化国家与区域尺度应用研究，加强与国际科研机构和政策部门的交流合作，探索将学术研究成果更好地服务于区域海岸带治理与可持续发展实践。
论文来源及链接：
Yiqiu Fu, Zengkai Zhang, Chao Liu, Zheng Li, Yixuan Chen, Xiaoxiang Liu, Jiaju Lin, Caiyun Zhang, Tao Lin, Jinliang Huang, Xiongzhi Xue, Integrated indicator assessment of coastal sustainable development capacity: Informing policy and prioritizing management actions in developing countries. Ocean & Coastal Management, 273, 108050.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2025.108050
A recent study titled Integrated indicator assessment of coastal sustainable development capacity: Informing policy and prioritizing management actions in developing countries was officially published in the internationally renowned journal Ocean & Coastal Management. The research is based on the project “Capacity Index of Sustainable Coastal Development for Countries Along the Maritime Silk Road” and was led by Professor XUE Xiongzhi, Dean of the Fujian Institute for Sustainable Oceans (FISO). Ocean & Coastal Management is a leading journal in the field of marine and coastal management. It focuses on coastal governance, marine policy, sustainable management, and coupled human-environment systems research, and holds substantial influence within the international academic and policy research communities.
In the context of intensifying global climate change and escalating coastal development pressures, the scientific and systematic assessment of sustainable development capacity in coastal countries has become a critical concern shared by the global academic and policy communities. This research outcome marks an important step in FISO’s ongoing commitment to supporting China’s Maritime Power strategy and promoting sustainable development along the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. It also underscores FISO’s established expertise in integrated coastal sustainability assessment, indicator system development, and international academic collaboration.
Focused on Developing Countries: A Showcase of FISO's Expertise and Global Vision
Coastal zones in developing countries represent critical regions characterized by high density of population, industry, and infrastructure, yet they also face fragile ecosystems and intensified developmental conflicts. However, international assessment tools for evaluating sustainable development at the coastal scale remain limited, especially the ones capable of integrating environmental, social, and economic dimensions within a framework that allows for cross-national comparability.
Supported by China Oceanic Development Foundation (CODF), FISO gathered an interdisciplinary research team to develop the Capacity Index of Sustainable Coastal Development (CISCD), which synthesizes multi-resource remote sensing data, authoritative global datasets, and established theoretical frameworks for sustainable development. Focusing on multiple developing countries participating in the Maritime Silk Road Initiative, the CISCD conducts a quantitative assessment of sustainable coastal development capacity across seven thematic dimensions: atmosphere, land, ocean, freshwater, biodiversity, social development, and economic development. By establishing solid theoretical foundation, a robust methodological approach, and strong international comparability, the index provides the first dedicated framework for assessing sustainable coastal development capacity across developing nations.
Recognized by Peers – Validating the Rigor and Scalability of the Index
The study was well received during the journal's peer review process. The reviewers highly commended the research framework and indicator system design, affirming that this work makes a significant contribution to the analysis of sustainable coastal development capacity in developing countries. They fully acknowledged the value of the research in terms of its methodological soundness, scientific rigor, and international applicability, and noted that the index framework holds potential to be applied to more coastal countries and regions.
Strengthening Research Translation: Providing Scientific Support for Regional Coastal Governance and SDGs Assessment
As a key research achievement by FISO in the field of sustainable coastal development, the study not only extends the existing theoretical and methodological frameworks, but also provides a quantitative foundation for policy analysis and practical implementation. Its outcome offers scientific support for integrated coastal management and the assessment of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Looking ahead, FISO will advance its work through the CISCD framework and by leveraging the Sustainable Coastal Development Capacity-Building Research Lab — a research hub jointly established by Xiamen University and CODF, to deepen applied research at national and regional scales, enhance collaboration with international scientific institutions and policy bodies, and further bridge academic findings with practical needs in regional coastal governance and sustainable development.
Yiqiu Fu, Zengkai Zhang, Chao Liu, Zheng Li, Yixuan Chen, Xiaoxiang Liu, Jiaju Lin, Caiyun Zhang, Tao Lin, Jinliang Huang, Xiongzhi Xue, Integrated indicator assessment of coastal sustainable development capacity: Informing policy and prioritizing management actions in developing countries. Ocean & Coastal Management, 273, 108050.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2025.108050
