Sharing Disaster Risk Management and Environmental Management experiences, lessons and linkages.
Disaster Risk Reduction and Environmental Management
in the context of National and Local Sustainable Development in Mesoamerica
David A. Smith WiltshireGeneva, Switzerland
Global Platform June 16 , 2009
JalapaBELIZE CITYGracia de Dios
Belmopan
San Cristobalde Las Casas
TrujilloTela La CeibaPto Barrios
San Pedro Sula OlanchitoCobán El ProgresoSan Cristobal Verapaz Morazán
Huehuetenango
SalamaQuezaltenangoSantiago Atitlan Jalapa
GUATEMALAEsquipulasMazatenango Retalhuleu Comayagua
La PazEscuintlaJutiapa
TEGUCIGALPAChalatenangoPto CabezasSanta Ana Suchitoto
El ParaisoSonsonateSAN SALVADORNueva San Salvador
ZacatecolucaLa Libertad Usulután CholutecaJinotegaEstelíMatagalpa
ChinandegaChichigalpa BoacoCorinto León
MANAGUA BluefieldsMasaya GranadaDiriamba
Rivas
Liberia
Alajuela Heredia PuertoLimón
Puntarenas SAN JOSECartago
Pto Quepos ColónBocas del ToroAlmirante
PANAMAPto Cortés
PenonoméDavidPto Armuelles
Santiago
LEYENDA
150 0 150 300 Kilómetros
N
Fuente: Los datos de densidad de población fueron tomados del Atlasde indicadores ambientales y de sustentabilidad para América Latinay el Caribe, Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical y elPrograma de las Naciones Unidas para el Medio Ambiente 1998.
MAPA 3. Centroamérica , densidad de población 1994.
BELICE
GUATEMALA
HONDURAS
EL SALVADOR NICARAGUA
COSTA RICA
PANAMA
PUERTO RICO
MAR CARIBE
OCEANO PACIFICO
0 - 11 - 22 - 44 - 8
8 - 1616 - 3232 - 6464 - 26000
Densidad de población 1994(# de habitantes x km2)
SETTLEMENT SETTLEMENT PATTERN PATTERN (2007)(2007) 502,100 km2 502,100 km2 41.3 41.3 million inhabitantsmillion inhabitants
Predominant Events in the region
+75 % hydro-meteorological recurrenceClimate Variability: rains, floods and drought patterns
Environmental degradation (land & water)
Unstable slopes/ landslides
Active Volcanoes
Earthquakes (last 18 years):Costa Rica (2009) Panama (2003); El Salvador (2001); Nicaragua (2000); C. Rica & Panama (1991)
Tsunami: already affected Nicaragua and Costa Rica
Climate ChangeRise in intensity/frequency of events and expected sea level
Areas of Extremely low rainfall
Source: Birkel C. CRRH, 2002
Municipalities affected by Extreme Poverty
Source: State of the Region, 2001 Report
LIVELIHOOD ISSUES ADDRESSED: CASES and EXAMPLES in Mesoamerica
Coyolate: Guatemala1998 – 2000 Community based EWS project
10 initial communities and 90 finally includedMonitored 2004 and 2006: EWS is operating
EWS works --- But floods continueIntegrated River Basin Management is required
La Masica: Honduras1996 – 1998 Successful EWS installed
No human victims during or after Hurricane Mitch1999 Demand 2004 achievement
System successfully applied to livestock (LIVELIHOOD)No Integrated River Basin or Environmental Management
CASES and EXAMPLES in Mesoamerica: urban setting
Belén: Costa Rica (1st in Social Development Index)1985 – 1999: 3 flash floods / 2000 – 2005: 7 flash floods
Rain patterns have not varied in last 20 years (NMI)Water volume varied from 25m3 to 50m3 (floods at 60m3)
Changes of land use along upstream and midstreamCatchments areas and runoff patterns were alteredPrevious coffee plantation now urbanized (substitute forest)
14 modern settlements in last 10 years
Political and technical optionsRegulatory Plan and Land Management was reviewedCoordinate & negotiate with midstream and upstream municipal authoritiesIncrease environmental management awareness
CASES and EXAMPLES in Mesoamerica
Rio Chico: Panama2000 Community based EWS project drafted2006 Hydroelectric Dam and agricultural irrigation project beganSignificant change in concept and managementSame river basin: five year difference
From Hazard and recurrent flood risk To relevant source for local development and security
Cleaner and cheaper energyImproved agricultural produce and quality
LIVELIHOOD ISSUES ADDRESSED: CASES and EXAMPLES
in Mesoamerica
Cahoacán river basin: Chiapas, México (2007 - )Bi-national Tacana Volcano watershed & environmental initiative910 km2 (7 mexican Municipalities)/ 1,400 km2 (15 Guate. Mplities)Upstream environmental degradation through:
Demographic growth and poverty, Demands on agriculture, forest/ logwood use and waterLand degradation and decrease in produce and qualityDeterioration of watershed
Drought patterns during dry seasonExcess runoff and floods during rainy seasonSubsequent deterioration of mangle, lagoons and estuaries
Downstream contaminationIncreased vulnerability and disaster riskReduced development potential: irrigation, agriculture & fisheries
LIVELIHOOD ISSUES ADDRESSED: CAHOACAN PROJECT (IUCN Mesoamerica)
Project’s first year: inter-institutional and multi stakeholders coordination for Integrated Watershed ManagementIUCN alliance with private sector foundation: Gzlo Rio ArronteSigned agreements with national, regional and municipal orgs.
Identified multiple actors and established River Basin Committee: June 2009Identified incentives, compatible national research and training programsConserving and restoring natural resources (reduce erosion)Land management and alternative productive practicesDisaster prevention initiatives and contamination control
Identified and addresses a variety of productive concernsJune 15 to July 30, 2009 (today):
Developing municipal integrated solid waste management plansSupport capacity building for waste and waste water treatment technologies
Main Lessons and Challenges
Mainstream paradigm shift: from Disaster Risk Reduction conceptual framework to Sustainable Development implementation strategyCoordinate DRR, Environmental Management and Climate Change Adaptation initiatives (includes ENSO)
Address Risk Scenarios:Both hazard monitoring and vulnerability assessment
Address Environmental ScenariosLand, water, flora, fauna and energy: resources & buffers
Address development scenarios Enforce Interdisciplinary and Sector’s interests & dialogueMainstreaming DRR into development planningProduce tools, methodology and explicit indicators
The need to overcome Biases
DRR is more a sustainable development (SD) concern than part of Disaster Management (DM)
Environmental Management is also a part of SD
DM deals with hazards, emergency situations preparedness and reconstruction
Ex ante, during and Ex post Is basically reactive and disaster centered
DRR has to do with vulnerability , risks and security:Lives and livelihoods: assets, investments, resources, produce, services, vital infrastructure, jobs, income (other variables)
IS MORE THAN POVERTY ALLEVIATION
Addresses existing risks and also the creation of new risksIs basically proactive and development prone
From thematic to strategic assessments: 2004 -2010
Address the need for other sectors involvement“OWNERS OF RISK”: need to take up responsibility in DRRInvestment-finance, Dev. Planning, Public Works, TourismEnvironment and Natural Resources (IWRM/land degradation) Housing-Human Settlements (water, sanitation, health)Agriculture, Energy and the Private Sector.
Increase advocacy among national and district level authorities, development planners and the media.
Address security issues: EWS for floods, climate variability, unstable slopes, water resources, land management, etc.:
A DEVELOPMENT CONCERN
Increase general public’s access to technical and scientific info. for decision making and development planning:
GROWING DEMAND
EL NIÑO 1997-98TOTALES LOSSES OF US$ 91.2 MILLIONS
AGRICULTURE 52.8INDUSTRY 1.1INFRAESTRUCT 21.4SOCIAL SECTOR 1.9EMERG & PREVENVIRONMENT
8.26.0
Orange, cantaloupe, water melon, papaya, plantain, palm sprout,
mango, palmito, vegetables SECTOR
58%
Recent political developments in Central America
Regional Agricultural Policy: Oct. 2007Area 1: Competitiveness and Agro-businessesArea 2: Financing and Risk Management
Risk Mgmt: Financial; Market; Structural; Disaster Risk
Agricultural-Environmental-Health Strategy: April 2008
Guidelines for Climate Change Strategy: May 2008
Main focus on Adaptation and Reduced VulnerabilityRequires new Institutional Frameworks (security)