Ecological Interactions in Coastal Marine Ecosystems: Trophodynamics
Ecosystems, their Services and Disaster Risk Reduction – Examples from Coastal Areas
-
Upload
imelda-franco -
Category
Documents
-
view
24 -
download
1
description
Transcript of Ecosystems, their Services and Disaster Risk Reduction – Examples from Coastal Areas
Ecosystems, their Services and Disaster Risk Reduction – Examples from Coastal
Areas
Fabrice Renaud
United Nations University – Institute for Environment and Human Security, Bonn, Germany
2nd GEOSS Science and Technology Stakeholder Workshop 28-31 August 2012, Bonn
Disasters Impacts on Development Gains
2Source: Ghesquiere & Mahul (2010): Financial Protection of the State against Natural Disasters: A Primer. Policy Research Working Paper 5429, The World Bank
Disasters Impacts on Development Gains (cont’d)
3Source: Cummins and Mahul (2009), as quoted in Ghesquiere & Mahul (2010‘): Financial Protection of the State against Natural Disasters: A Primer . Policy Research Working Paper 5429, The World Bank
Links betweeen disasters and the environment
UNEP & UNISDR (2008)
4
Hyogo Framework for Action
World Conference on Disaster Reduction which was held in 2005 in Kobe
5 Priorities for action. Relevant on in our context:• Reduce the underlying risk factors
2 Relevant activities:• Environmental and natural resource management with components
that include:o Sustainable use and management of ecosystems;o Implement integrated environmental and natural resource management
approaches that incorporate disaster risk reduction;o Linking disaster risk reduction with existing climate variability and future
climate change.• Land-use planning and other technical measures with a component on
incorporating disaster risk assessment into rural development planning and management.
Mid-term review of HFA: least progress what in this Priority for Action at the national level
5
Ecosystem ServicesSource: Millennium Ecosystem Assessment. 2005. Human Well-being: Synthesis. Island Press, Washington, DC
6
Exposure: Buffering the Populations2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami
Following the tsunami, the fact that some ecosystem components had previously been degraded by human interventions was blamed for the damages & losses:• Costal vegetation in general and mangroves in particular• Sand dunes• Sea grasses• Coral reefs
It was assumed that these features would have protected the population by:• Reducing the energy of the waves• Reducing the exposure of the populations (increased distance from
coastline)
7
Destruction of Natural Buffers
Specific effects of some ecosystem components are scientifically debated when it comes to the tsunami
Photo by Marcus Kaplan
8
Did Natural Features Limit the Impact?
Kathiresan & Rajendra. Estuarine, Coastal & Shelf Sci 65:601-606
Kerr et al. Estuarine, Coastal & Shelf Sci 67:539-541
• Performed stepwise regression analysis on data from Kathiresan• Conclusion: vegetation area contributes little to explanation of variation in mortality
Kathiresan & Rajendra. Estuarine, Coastal & Shelf Sci 67:542
• Did not really address the statistical questions put forward by Kerr et al. but stood by their conclusions
Vermaat & Thampanya. Estuarine, Coastal & Shelf Sci 69:1-3
• Performed an ANOVA with distance and elevation as covariates• Conclusion: interpretation by Kathiresan and Rajendra holds
Vermaat & Thampanya. Estuarine, Coastal & Shelf Sci (in press)
• Erratum Mistake in stats: mortality and property loss were not less behind mangroves
9
Some Factors at Play – but much more Research needed
There are many potential factors to consider incl.:• Bathymetry• Topography• Distance of settlement• Coastal vegetation• Impact angle• Distance from epicentre
Chatenouy & Pedduzzi:• Depth of sea floor at 10km• Length of proximal slope• % protection from seagrass• Distance from fault line• % protection from coral
Source: Chatenoux & Peduzzi. Natural Hazards. DOI 10.1007/s11069-006-0015-9
10
Earthquake and Tsunami impact in Sendai, Wakabayashi Ward, Arahama District
11
23/09/2003 17/04/2011
04/10/2011 29/03/2012
Photo Credit: Tohoku Construction Association . Do not reproduce
Coastal Forests in Sendai
12
Photo Credit: Fabrice Renaud/UNU-EHS Do not reproduce
Ecosystem and DRR in the context of the Great East Japan Earthquake
The Earthquake Disaster Reconstruction Plan (City of Sendai, 2011)
• Puts some emphasis on the environment• Addresses agricultural issues• “Restore the beautiful coast”• Utilising “costal prevention forests” explicitly
mentioned
13
Ecosystem and DRR in the context of the Great East Japan Earthquake
14
Source: Sendai City Earthquake Disaster Reconstruction Plan (2011)
Devastation in Minamisanriku & plans for relocation
15
Some points of reflection
Extreme events affecting Indonesia, Sri Lanka & Japan -> lead to different reconstruction processes & thus development pathways
In all cases, considering ecosystems in the rebuilding process is a “no regrets” solution• Ecosystems might not stop the next tsunami but…• They will mitigate other higher frequency hazards• Provide livelihoods for communities relying on them• Increase recreational/cultural value of the landscape
The use of ecosystems for DRR can also contributes to:• Sustainable development• Reduce cost of (engineered) DRR infrastructure
Further research required to provide adequate advice to policy makers (Renaud, Sudmier-Rieux & Estrella, 2013)
16
Application of the SUST Model in the Case of the 2004 Tsunami
Source: Ingram et al. 2006. Post-disaster recovery dilemmas: challenges in balancing short-term and long-term needs for vulnerability reduction. Environmental Science & policy 9:607-613
Data Requirements
Geospatial data are extremely valuable to assess:• The presence/state of coastal ecosystems or their
components such as sand dunes, coastal vegetation, etc.
• Tracking changes in such systems (temporal and spatial dimensions)
• Determining impacts on ecosystems so as to restore ecosystem services as rapidly as possible
18
Thank You
UNITED NATIONS UNIVERSITYInstitute for Environment and Human
Security(UNU-EHS)
Hermann-Ehlers-Str. 10D-53113 Bonn, Germany
Phone: ++ 49 (0) 228 815-0211Fax: ++ 49 (0) 228 815-0299E-Mail: [email protected]
www.ehs.unu.edu
19