Dynamic Parameters in Coastal Vulnerability Assessment: A Systematic Review of Ecosystem Services, Land-Use Change, and Equity Dimensions for Small Island Communities

Coastal vulnerability assessment for small island communities has traditionally relied on static geophysical parameters, creating systematic blind spots that misallocate adaptation resources and underestimate vulnerability in zones experiencing rapid habitat degradation and land-use change. This systematic review synthesizes 47 peer-reviewed studies (2010–2025) examining coastal vulnerability index (CVI) methodologies and their treatment of dynamic parameters including ecosystem services, land-use change, and socioeconomic dimensions. The primary finding of this review is that 83% of assessed studies completely omit ecosystem parameters from vulnerability calculations, and 100% lack any equity or gender-disaggregated analysis. These findings establish that current operational CVI frameworks systematically underrepresent true vulnerability in ecosystem-dependent island communities. Future priorities include developing open-source dynamic assessment tools, establishing disaggregated equity frameworks, operationalizing just transition mechanisms for fishing-dependent communities, and building regional capacity for science-informed, equitable vulnerability reduction in resource-constrained island nations.