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)