Ecologic Institute in San Mateo, California, supports Conservation International in the development of a composite index measuring the degree of dependence of human populations on marine ecosystem resources. The index consists of a set of metrics that aim to capture nutritional and economic dependence as well as coastal protection needs.

Senior Fellow Tanja Srebotnjak provides services in the areas of data quality, transformations and robustness analysis to ensure that the index is built on solid statistical foundations.

A special characteristic of the composite index is its geospatial reference coordinate system at 1km x 1km resolution, which is achieved through the use of geospatially explicit data sets and which allows a new, fine-grained analysis of the risks and opportunities of sustainable management of marine ecosystem management.