Institute for Environment & Human Security
United Nations University
"Advancing
“Advancing
Knowledge
human security
for Human
through
Security
knowledge-based
and Development“
approaches to reducing vulnerability and environmental risks“
United Nations University
United Nations University
Institute for Environment and
Institute for Environment and
Human Security
Human Security
(UNU-EHS)
(UNU-EHS)
IDRC Conference
Chengdu, 14 July 2009
Institute for Environment & Human Security
United Nations University
Ecosystems: a Crucial Element of Disaster
Risk Reduction
Dr. Fabrice Renaud
Associate Director
UNU-EHS
IDRC Conference
Chengdu, 14 July 2009
Relevance of Ecosystems in DRR
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UNEP. 2008. Environment and disaster risk. Emerging perspectives. Results from the UN
ISDR Working Group on Environment and Disasters Reduction. UNEP, 32p.
Ø
Hyogo framework for action → Reducing the
underlying risk factors
• Encourage sustainable use and management of
ecosystems
• Integrated environmental management
• Identification of climate-related risks; specific risk
reduction measures
Ø
Connections between environment and disasters:
• Environmental degradation is a hazard in itself
• Healthy ecosystems often provide natural defences (or
buffers)
• Degraded ecosystems reduce community resilience
IDRC Conference
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Ecosystem Services
Source: Millennium Ecosystem Assessment. 2005. Human Well-being: Synthesis. Island Press, Washington, DC
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Ø We are living beyond
our means
Ø Approx. 60% of the
ecosystem services
examined are being
degraded or used
unsustainably
Ø Intense vulnerability
of the 2 billion people
living in dry regions
Ø Growing threat to
ecosystems from
climate change
IDRC Conference
Chengdu, 14 July 2009
Vulnerability Assessment: Focus on
Coupled Socio-Ecological Systems
Turner II et al. 2003. A framework for vulnerability analysis in sustainability science. PNAS 100:8074-8079. MODIFIED – Marion Damm
System operates at multiple
spatial, functional and temporal scales
Dynamics
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cross-scale
in place
beyond place
Local
Social Influences outside the Place
Macro political economy, institutions,
global trends and transitions
Variability & change
in social conditions
Place Vulnerability
Exposure
Perturbations, stresses
(exogenous, endogenous)
National
Regional
• Assets
• People
• Ecosystems
Sensitivities
• Condition of
social system
• Condition of
ecological
system
Resilience
Ecosystem
Resilience
Impact
responses
Coping
Capacities
Adaptive
Capacities
Adjustment &
adaptation
responses
Variability & change
in ecological
conditions
Ecological Influences outside the Place
State of biosphere, State of Nature,
Global Environmental Changes
Drivers/Causes
Consequences
IDRC Conference
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Key Dimensions of Vulnerability
Social Dimension
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Vulnerability of different social groups,
Role of social networks (coping)
Economic Dimension
Vulnerability of different economic sectors and
critical infrastructure
Environmental Dimension
Environmental fragility (groundwater, land)
Dependency on environmental services
Institutional Dimension
Effectiveness and failure of structures and
IDRC Conference
institutionsChengdu,
14 July 2009
Ecosystem Degradation and Hazards
Deforestation – Floods: Haiti in 2004
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May 2004 floods:
Rank 3rd in Dominican Republic with
688 casualties
Rank 3rd in Haiti with 2665 casualties
(source: EM-DAT)
NASA: http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards
/natural_hazards_v2.php3?img_id=12156
Tropical Storm Jeanne (September 2004): big
differential of impacts between two countries
http://unosat.web.cern.ch/unosat/freeproducts/haiti/P24_Haiti_gonaive
s_bitemp_couleur321_5k_lowres.jpg
IDRC Conference
Chengdu, 14 July 2009
Consider Multiple Factors
Deforestation alone? Deforestation and other factors?
Unit
Haiti
Domin. Rep.
1994-96
%
31,0
66,8
2004
US $
1.610
6.640
-
km2
27.560
48.380
Life expectancy at birth2
2004
years
52
67
Population density1
NASA: http://visibleearth.nasa.gov/view_rec.php?id=12792
Population growth rate2
2000
inh km-2
295
173
2004
%
1,9
1,5
1998
%
17,0
8,0
1997-99
%
56,0
25,0
-
Rank
101 of 122
76 of 122
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Year
United Nations University
Parameter
Access to electricity1
GDP per capita2
Land area1
Proportion of irrigated land1
Proportion of
undernourished1
Water quality indicator1
UNESCO. 2003. Water for people, water for life. UNESCO-WAPP, Paris.
IDRC Conference
UNESCO.
2004. Country profile: Haiti
Chengdu, 14 July 2009
Ecosystems – Resilience & Vulnerability
within the Context of the Tsunami
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Ecosystems as Buffer to
Tsunami Waves
Accelerated degradation of
coastal features can lead to an
increase in exposure.
Sensitivity of ecosystems
Degraded ecosystems cannot
supply livelihood services
optimally. Effect on coping
capacities.
IDRC Conference
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Destruction of Natural Buffers
Ø Specific effects of some
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ecosystem components are
scientifically debated when it
comes to the tsunami
Photo by Marcus Kaplan
IDRC Conference
Chengdu, 14 July 2009
Some Factors at Play – but much more Research
needed
Source: Chatenoux & Peduzzi. Natural Hazards. DOI 10.1007/s11069-006-0015-9
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Ø There are many potential
factors to consider incl.:
• Bathymetry
• Topography
• Distance of settlement
• Coastal vegetation
• Impact angle
• Distance from epicentre
Ø Chatenoux & Pedduzzi:
•
•
•
•
•
Depth of sea floor at 10km
Length of proximal slope
% protection from seagrass
Distance from fault line
% protection from coral
IDRC Conference
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Survey Area
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Protective Function of Coastal Ecosystems:
IDRC Conference
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Source: PhD research of Marcus Kaplan (UNU-EHS)
Vegetation Classes
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Source: PhD research of Marcus Kaplan (UNU-EHS)
Class 3
Class 2
IDRC Conference
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Class 1
Protective Function of Coastal Vegetation
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Source: PhD research of Marcus Kaplan (UNU-EHS)
Vegetation
Class
Mean
N
1
238.50
20
2
264.29
14
3
324.29
7
Total
261.95
41
Mean water level at the different
houses behind the respective
vegetation class (up to 300 m from
the sea) in cm
Unstandardize
Standard
Standardized
d Coefficients
error
Coefficients
B
Constant
Distance of House from Sea
(m)
Vegetation Class 1
Vegetation Class 2
Sig.
Beta
500
47
-0.97
0.21
-0.58
0.000
-116
32
-0.64
0.001
33
-0.37
0.039
IDRC
Conference
-71
Chengdu, 14 July 2009
0.000
Protective Function of Coastal Vegetation
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Source: PhD research of Marcus Kaplan (UNU-EHS)
IDRC Conference
Chengdu, 14 July 2009
Ecosystems and Livelihoods – Tsunami & Services
Affected
Ø People relied on
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ecosystem services
Ø Ecosystem services
altered at different levels
(quantitatively) and for
different time scales
Ø Vulnerable if livelihood
dependent on lost
ecosystem service
Source: DLR – EUSI, 2004
IDRC Conference
Chengdu, 14 July 2009
Agriculture in Eastern Sri Lanka
Institute for Environment & Human Security
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Ø Tsunami affected the Maha
season:
• Loss of standing crop
Ø Other direct impacts
(examples):
• Human capital (loss of life &
injuries)
• Temporary salinisation of
soils
• Salinisation of shallow
groundwater (irrigation)
• Debris deposits
• Loss of equipment
• Loss of financial assets
IDRC Conference
Chengdu, 14 July 2009
Impact of Tsunami on Resource Base
Source:Thywissen & Renaud, submitted (please do not reproduce)
Soil salinity - PS
Soi salinity - VS
120
strong
mild
120
nil
Respondents (%)
90
60
40.0
36.7
23.3
30
100.0
90
72.5
60
30
13.8
13.8
3.3
0
0
before
before
after
Irrigation water salinity - VS
120
100.0
Respondents (%)
Respondents (%)
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96.7
90
78.8
60
30
16.3
5.0
0
before
after
Period
IDRC Conference
Chengdu, 14 July 2009
after
Multi-dimensionality of Impact
Capitals
B.T.
A.T.
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1. Human
Capitals
B.T.
A.T.
4. Physical
a. Skills
++
++
a. Marketing infrastructure
++
+
b. Involv. in farming
+++
+
b. Transportation system
+
+
c. Seasonal labour avail.
+++
+
c. Storage/buildings
+
+
d. Health
++
+
d. Irrigation works
++
+
e. Roads
++
+
2. Natural
a. Land/Soil (potential)
+++
+
f. Tools & machinery
+++
+
b. Irrigation water
++
+
g. Energy
++
+
h. Post-harvest
+
+
+++
+++
+
+
3. Financial
a. Savings
+++
+
5. Social
b. Grants
+
+
a. Farmer organisations
c. Subsidies
+
++
b. Political affiliation
+++
+
c. Norms & values
+++
++
+
+
d. Network of farmers
+++
+++
d. Income
e. Credit/loan
IDRC Conference
Chengdu, 14 July 2009
Institute for Environment & Human Security
United Nations University
Differentials in Recovery
Contrast in assets, impacts and support were the main driver of recovery.
No long-lasting biophysical effects on resource base noted.
IDRC Conference
Chengdu, 14 July 2009
Institute for Environment & Human Security
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Climate Change – Sea level rise & Vietnam
Figure f. Maps indicating number of people affected (and potentially displaced) under a 1 metre sea-level rise scenario based on current socio-economic and
environmental conditions in Viet Nam (Source: Carew -Reid 2007, pp27- 28 (modified))
IDRC Conference
Chengdu, 14 July 2009
Including Environmental Considerations in
DRR
Extract from: UNEP. 2008. Environment and disaster risk. Emerging perspectives. Results
from the UN ISDR Working Group on Environment and Disasters Reduction. UNEP, 32p.
Ø Engage environmental managers in DRM
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Ø Include risk reduction criteria in environmental
Ø
Ø
Ø
Ø
Ø
regulatory frameworks
Assess environmental change as a parameter of risk
Engage the scientific community to promote
environmental research
Protect and value ecosystem services
Consider environmental technologies for structural
defences
Integrate environmental and disaster risk in spatial
planning
IDRC Conference
Chengdu, 14 July 2009
Institute for Environment & Human Security
United Nations University
Thank you for your attention!
Contact [email protected]
for further questions
IDRC Conference
Chengdu, 14 July 2009