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Highlights from the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction
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The 6th session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (GPDRR) took place May 13-17 in Geneva. PEDRR co-organized two high level working sessions on ecosystem-based disaster risk reduction (Eco-DRR), respectively on green, blue and gray infrastructure, and water-related hazards.
Some key messages from the sessions include:
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The Role of Green, Blue and Gray Infrastructure in Reducing Disaster Risk
Green and blue infrastructure should be an integral part of National and Local Disaster Risk Reduction Strategies (under Target E of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction).
Increasing public investment in green and blue infrastructure will allow countries to meet the Sendai targets reducing disaster risk, and to work towards their ecosystem-related target commitments to the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement.
We should leave no one, no place and no ecosystem behind. Green and blue infrastructure approaches are highly inclusive. Ecosystems reduce vulnerabilities and enable stakeholders like women and indigenous people to contribute their knowledge and expertise.
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Integrating Risk Management Ecosystems and Water-Related Risks
Governments should redirect their investments towards water-related ecosystem-based disaster risk reduction. Water-related disasters account for almost 90 per cent of the 1000 most disastrous events that have taken place since 1990.
Local populations are part of the solution. Communities, including major stakeholders such as women, should be involved in the protection and restoration of water-related ecosystems such as wetlands, which provide important ecosystem services supporting the livelihoods of local populations
Ecosystem-based solutions can act as peace building measures in fragile contexts, where tension is exacerbated by competition over water and other natural resources.
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Highlights from PEDRR partners at GPDRR include:
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Scientists to value benefits of Eco-friendly flood schemes
The economic and environmental benefits of natural flood defenses will be explored in a £467,000 University of Stirling-led project based in Can Tho, Vietnam. Researchers, led by Environmental Economist Dr Tobias Börger, will study the effectiveness of blue and green infrastructure (BGI) – which include wetlands, urban parks and vegetated river banks – at protecting communities from surface-water flooding and rising water levels. Read more here
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Seychellois school children propagating native trees to help counter climate change effects
Seychellois school children are being given the capacity to participate in climate change resilience initiatives by managing native tree nurseries. The construction of the nurseries at Glacis and La Retraite primary schools is part of the Adaptation Fund project on Ecosystem-based adaptation to climate change in Seychelles. The project seeks to reduce the vulnerability of the Seychelles – 115 islands in the western Indian Ocean - to climate change, focusing on two key issues: water scarcity and flooding. Read the story here
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Call for increased investments in green infrastructure as US agrees on infrastructure deal
As the US Congress considers a US$2 trillion deal to fix the United States infrastructure network, this article calls for the inclusion of investments in green infrastructure, such as forests, grasslands, wetlands, and natural waterways, and not just in the traditionally favored gray infrastructure. Green infrastructure reduces the risks of flooding and wildfire, is often a more cost-effective alternative, and produces considerable benefits to both urban and rural communities. Read the article here
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Featured Video
Citizen Scientists Help Reduce Flood Risk with Soil Sampling in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
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Soil erosion contributes considerably to the increasing impacts of flooding in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Soil data for the city has previously been lacking, hindering the accuracy of flood modeling. The Tanzanian Urban Resilience Program is harnessing local tools and knowledge to conduct soil sampling and create a comprehensive soil map that will inform flood mitigation measures and urban planning to save lives and contribute to development. Watch the video and read more here
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Opportunity mapping of ecosystem-based solutions for reducing disaster risk
A new geospatial tool, jointly launched by UN Environment and UN Environment-GRID at the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction 2019 and powered by MapX, a UN-backed geospatial data provider and viewer, overlays global data sets on ecosystem distribution and hazard exposure with the aim of highlighting ecosystem restoration and protection opportunities areas for disaster risk reduction. Opportunity mapping will be a core component of the recently launched project "Up-scaling community resilience through ecosystem-based disaster risk reduction", led by UN Environment and Partners for Resilience, funded by the European Commission and with support from the Government of Norway. Future plans include making all global data sets available for downloading. Keep up to-date through the PEDRR newsletter as the tool evolves.
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Featured Publication
Managing disaster risks and water under climate change in Central Asia and Caucasus
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Climate change is expected to have profound impacts on water and natural hazards in Central Asia and South Caucasus, with serious implications for the management of water resources and natural hazards in both regions. This publication by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) is the result of a joint learning journey involving three thematic networks – Climate Change and Environment, Disaster Risk Reduction, and Water – and interested SDC offices and partners in the regions. One of the key messages of the report is that the synergies across DRR, climate change and natural resource management should be harnessed and fostered through the adoption of integrated watershed management, ecosystem-based approaches, and integrated disaster risk management.
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Opportunities for considering green infrastructure and ecosystems in the Sendai Framework Monitor
Ecosystem-based disaster risk reduction has gained attention to complement or replace grey infrastructure. This study published in Progress in Disaster Science explores ways in which ecosystems and green infrastructure (GI) are critical infrastructure in the context of disaster risk reduction to report respective losses in the Sendai Framework Monitor (SFM). The authors argue that reporting on GI in the SFM under indicators D-4 and C-5 represent an opportunity for tracking losses, yet custom targets and indicators according to countries' needs within the SFM might offer an alternative for Member States to report on both losses and progress, allowing to better measure risk reduction.
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This session will highlight research results concerning the insurance value of nature, and will present different approaches to harness ecosystem-based solutions to increase resilience to climate change and natural hazards. These approaches can provide precautionary and cost-efficient alternatives to limit the magnitude and impact of climate change. Ecosystem-based solutions also generate co-benefits, such as the restoration of degraded ecosystems, which positively affect communities’ beyond the mere reduction in damage potential. Read more about the session here
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Hydro database and GIS expert
Organization: IUCN
Location: Kigali, Rwanda
Closing date: 31 May 2019
See here
Technical Advisor for Landscape Restoration and Governance
Organization: IUCN
Location: Kigali, Rwanda
Closing date: 31 May 2019
See here
Graphic Designer
Organization: UN Environment
Crisis Management Branch
Location: Home-based
Closing date: 2 June 2019
See here
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Drought Risk Management Consultant
Organization: ADPC
Location: Home-based with missions to Cambodia, Lao PDR and Myanmar
Closing date: 2 June 2019
See here
Communications Intern
Organization: UN Environment
Crisis Management Branch
Location: Geneva, Switzerland
Closing date: 3 June 2019
See here
Researcher in political science focusing on environmental policy and disaster risk reduction, Department of Government
Organization: Uppsala University
Location: Uppsala, Sweden
Closing date: 10 June 2019
See here
For more information please see PEDRR's Linkedin.
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