Working with Nature for DRR
Millions of people around the world are vulnerable to natural and man-made hazards. Unsustainable management and use of ecosystems is often a root cause of such vulnerability. Wetlands International calls for better integration of approaches to disaster risk reduction, bringing together expertise from relevant sectors and making optimal use of the natural protection provided by ecosystems.
All around the world, people are increasingly exposed to disaster risk from natural hazards such as droughts, storms and floods. As disasters increase in frequency and intensity, there is a growing body of evidence suggesting that traditional approaches to disaster risk reduction (DRR) are often insufficient to make a lasting difference.
Disaster response and relief, and community development and preparedness remain key pillars of DRR, but practitioners increasingly recognise the need to also address the root causes of risk and vulnerability.
Addressing the often complex underlying causes of risk requires integration of best practices from DRR, climate change adaptation and ecosystem-based approaches to land and resource management. This must be done at various levels, from the community to the landscape level, and across the risk reduction cycle, from immediate disaster relief to longer-term mitigation and prevention measures.
Related Action(s): Bio-rights for Disaster Risk Reduction of K'iche' communities in Sololá, Guatemala
, Building Community Resilience to Natural Disasters in Kenya
, Building resilience to disasters in the Mahanadi delta and Kosi-Gandak floodplains, India
, Chilika Lagoon, India
, Building with Nature
, Reducing disaster risk by restoring wetlands in the Inner Niger Delta of Mali
, Reducing the risk of floods and landslides in the Philippines
, Strengthening Coastal Resilience for Communities in Nusa Tenggara Timur, Indonesia