1. Ecosystems, Livelihoods and Disaster Risk Reduction Workshop
Bonn,
Bonn, Germany, 21-23 September 2010
21-
Session 4: Synthesis
What have we learned?
learned?
2. Ecosystems, livelihoods and DRR: Key issues
• Multidisciplinarity > Interdisciplinarity > TRANSDISCIPLINARITY
• Multi-hazards, cross-sectoral approaches
• Holistic ecology: Adopting a ‘broader’ landscape perspective/ ‘Ridge to Reef’ approach
• Acknowledge the limits of ecosystem services for DRR
• Understand thresholds and tipping points
• Acknowledge positive outcomes of hazards & learning to ‘live with hazards’
• Include poverty alleviation and social justice
• Communication, knowledge transfer, education and advocacy between all levels and
spheres
• Strengthen and link existing platforms, networks and partnerships
• Relationship between chronic and episodic hazards and of how episodic events that
become chronic hazards
Take knowledge outside of this room!!!
3. Ecosystems, livelihoods and DRR: Key issues
• Precautionary principle as long as DRR is being addressed by other means
• Applied research
• Underscore multiple use of ecosystems
• Integrate ecosystem based DRR into development planning/ governance
• Trans-boundary and urbanization issues
• Climate change impact on disaster risk and vulnerability
• Difficulty in measuring vulnerability
• Influence policy-making
• Short term political timeframe vs long term return and investment for ecosystem
services
• Include of economics (valuation, experts, etc) > economic ecology
Take knowledge outside of this room!!!
5. Scientific Knowledge, Tools & Methods
Tools
• Ecosystem management is a tool to be combined with other elements
• Stakeholder platforms
• Community-based DRR
• Livelihood impact assessments and scenario modeling
• Joint and comprehensive terminology
• Integrated watershed management
• Manuals, guidelines
• Protected area management
• Land use planning, management and tenure
• Enforcement, control, restoration of ecosystems
• Fuel management for wildfire
• Living with the hazard (becoming hazard-wise)
• Traditional knowledge
• Fire danger rating systems
6. Practitioners’ Knowledge, Tools & Methods
Success criteria
• Government buy-in and multi-sectoral cooperation
• Country-driven processes
• Community participation
• Dialogue among multiple stakeholders
• Build on existing work
• Long term vision for sustainability
• Demonstrable outcomes & targeted and useful tools
• Learning and knowledge networks
• Clarity on challenges and gaps
• Innovation
• Interdisciplinary
7. Practitioners’ Knowledge, Tools & Methods
Driving forces
• Hazard events, post-disaster rehabilitation, memory of recent disaster
• Donor support, INGOs, private sector
• Disaster funds available
• Local needs
• Threat to infrastructure
• Multiple uses of ecosystem >, involvment
• Cost effectiveness
• Holistic approaches
• Ecosystem degradation
• Increased awareness on climate change
• Science influence on policies
• Paradigm shift toward prevention and mitigation
• ISDR Hyogo framework for Action (AP 4: Sustainable development)
8. Practitioners’ Knowledge, Tools & Methods
Obstacles
• Lack of data, experise, capacity
• Expertise, time, cost
• Change in donor policies
• Benefits take a long time to manifest
• Working with traumatised communities
• Terminology
• Coordination
• Perceptions and cultural differences
• Misfit between policies and scientific results
• Difficulty to replicate and upscale
• Corruption
• Short term interests
• Dichotomy between humanitarian and prevention
• Guidance on mitigation and prevention is not adequate and specific
