The attractiveness of the Mediterranean coastal zones results in competing pressures over the coastal space. Identifying and understanding land cover change processes, particularly urbanisation or land take, is essential for coastal planning and management. The impacts of urbanisation compromise the integrity of ecosystems and landscapes, which preservation is one of the crucial ICZM Protocol objectives. Moreover, land use is the world’s second-largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, and soil is a major “sink” of greenhouse gases. Therefore, monitoring land cover change is a crucial indicator for adaptation and mitigation in coastal zones and serves as an essential tool for promoting sustainability and directing our society towards a greener future.
This is why PAP/RAC has suggested adding the land cover change indicator to the Integrated Monitoring and Assessment Program (IMAP) developed by UNEP/MAP. With IMAP, we aim to quantitatively assess the status of the Mediterranean Sea and coast in an integrated way through indicators. In the framework of MedProgramme Child Project 2.1 PAP/RAC upgraded the existing indicator calculations by incorporating new data sources such as the latest satellite imagery and open policy data. This has enabled the inclusion of elevation data, which is crucial in recognising the risks of coastal flooding. Applying this land cover change indicator in the Mediterranean countries would provide vital information for better planning and management of coastal zones.