The impacts of climate change are of particular concern to the coastal region of tropical countries like India, which are exposed to cyclones, floods, tsunami, seawater intrusion, etc. Climate-change adaptation presupposes comprehensive assessment of vulnerability status. Studies so far relied either on remote sensing-based spatial mapping of physical vulnerability or on certain socio-economic aspects with limited scope for upscaling or replication. The current study is an attempt to develop a holistic and robust framework to assess the vulnerability of coastal India at different levels. We propose and estimate cumulative vulnerability index (CVI) as a function of exposure, sensitivity and adaptive capacity, at the village level, using nationally comparable and credible datasets. The exposure index (EI) was determined at the village level by decomposing the spatial multi-hazard maps, while sensitivity (SI) and adaptive capacity indices (ACI) were estimated using 23 indicators, covering social and economic aspects. The indicators were identified through the literature review, expert consultations, opinion survey, and were further validated through statistical tests. The socio-economic vulnerability index (SEVI) was constructed as a function of sensitivity and adaptive capacity for planning grassroot-level interventions and adaptation strategies. The framework was piloted in Sindhudurg, a coastal district in Maharashtra, India. It comprises 317 villages, spread across three taluks viz., Devgad, Malvan and Vengurla. The villages in Sindhudurg were ranked based on this multi-criteria approach. Based on CVI values, 92 villages (30%) in Sindhudurg were identified as highly vulnerable. We propose a decision tool for identifying villages vulnerable to changing climate, based on their level of sensitivity and adaptive capacity in a two-dimensional matrix, thus aiding in planning location-specific interventions. Here, vulnerability indicators are classified and designated as 'drivers' (indicators with significantly high values and intervention priority) and 'buffers' (indicators with low-to-moderate values) at the village level. The framework provides for aggregation or decomposition of CVI and other sub-indices, in order to plan spatial contingency plans and enable swift action for climate adaptation.

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The Gulf of Mannar (GoM), India, includes 21 coral islands (8°N; 79°E), covers an area of 10,500 sq. km and supports 94 species of corals belonging to 37 genera. Kappaphycus alvarezii, a Philippine-derived rhodophyte, has been introduced into the GoM for commercial cultivation in 2002. The ecological threat from this invasive alga to coral species in GoM was first indicated by Pereira and Verlecar (2005). After 6 years of its introduction, its bioinvasion on branching corals (Acropora species) in the Kurusadai island (9°15¢N; 79°12¢E) of GoM was reported in 2008 (Chandrasekaran et al. 2008). Consequently, commercial cultivation of this invasive alga was prohibited. A mechanical removal programme started in 2009 by the State Government at the invaded site could not deliver expected results. Thus, this alga enjoys a freedom of unrestricted spread and aggressive growth in GoM, predominantly on species of Acropora. On 28 April 2010, during our routine sampling visit at Kurusadai Island, unusual appearance of K. alvarezii, on the cup coral, Turbinaria sp. was observed (Fig. 1a). The space between the plates of Turbinaria sp. provides an ideal settlement surface for K. alvarezii, which protect them from the wave action and favour the profuse growth of secondary branches of K. alvarezii between the plates (Fig. 1b) in contrast to the smothering effect on the top of coral plates (Fig. 1c). This finding shows that K. alvarezii is capable of invading species of nonbranching corals as reported in Hawaii for Montipora capitata and Porites compressa (Conklin and Smith 2005). Therefore, perhaps this is the first report from India on bioinvasion of K. alvarezii on a non-branching coral (Turbinaria sp.) in the GoM.

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