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Weekly News Alert
Issue 109 - May 11 - 15, 2015
Newsletter on ecosystems-based risk reduction and climate change adaptation
News

Sri Lanka becomes the first country to comprehensively protect all of its mangrove forests

Seacology (a US NGO), Sudeesa (a Sri Lankan NGO) and the Government of Sri Lanka have launched a new initiative that seeks to conserve and restore mangrove ecosystems in the country. This initiative makes Sri Lanka the first country to comprehensively protect mangroves. Protecting mangroves is important because they absorb three to five times more carbon per equivalent area than other types of forests. Moreover, they provide habitats to multiple fish species on which local communities rely, and they can act as natural buffers and therefore reduce damage of storms. This project will protect all 21,782 acres (8,815 ha) of Sri Lanka's existing mangrove forests and will provide alternative job training and micro-loans to 15,000 impoverished women who live in communities adjacent to the mangroves. The project will also replant 9,600 acres (3,885 ha) of deforested mangrove forests. A first-of-its kind mangrove museum to educate the public about the importance of preserving this resource will be part of the project. Read more
Lima to invest US$ 110 million in green infrastructures and climate change adaptation
In Peru, both flooding and drought have been previously mitigated by wetlands, namely bogs and swamps, that helped to absorb excess water run-off and slowly release water during dry seasons. However, in recent years, communities have drained wetlands to expand areas for cattle grazing. As a result, the bogs no longer provide critical water flow functions, making dry seasons drier and worsening the impacts of flooding. In order to reverse this situation, the Government of Lima has launched a massive green infrastructures programme that includes restoration of wetlands, rotational grazing of animals and restoration of pre-Incan "amunas" (canals) that siphon water off high-altitude streams in the wet season and funnel it into the mountain itself, where it filters down through the rocks over several months and emerges from springs in the dry season. Of the activities, restoration of amunas will likely provide the greatest impact and at the lowest cost, according to a cost-curve analysis. The programme seeks to improve watershed management in order to regulate water flows. Read more
Quick Knowledge

Test your knowledge on the Ramsar Convention

Did you know that there are over 2,193 Ramsar sites in the world with a total surface area of 208 843 795 ha.? On 02-11 June, the Ramsar Convention will be hosting its 12th Conference of the Parties (CoP) in Uruguay. CoP delegates will consider the adoption of a Resolution on Wetlands and DRR sponsored by the Government of the Philippines, which would integrate DRR into wetland management plans of Ramsar sites. Do you know a Ramsar site nearest you? Check out the Ramsar sites in your country here
Job Vacancies
 
United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR)
Position: Consultant National Liaison Office

Deadline: May 30 2015
Duty station: Port-au-prince, Haiti
 
For more information please see PEDRR's LinkedIn.
Featured publication

Small steps for big changes: Micro-projects to strengthen community resilience
Published by Wetlands International, Cruz Roja Guatemalteca, CARE, Caritas and other organizations, this case study features efforts by the Partners for Resilience in Guatemala to promote community resilience to climate change and disasters. The initiative works with 23 communities to implement micro-projects, which have to take into account ecosystem management in the design, implementation and evaluation of disaster risk reduction plans. One project, for example, uses plants as natural filters to supply drinking water. Read more
Upcoming Event
 
Resilient cities 2015: 6th global forum on urban resilience and adaptation

Resilient cities, the Annual Global Forum on Urban Resilience and Adaptation, is the global platform for urban resilience and climate change adaptation, hosted every year in Bonn. The aim is to find solutions to current climate change impacts in cities. Key sessions include ecosystem-based adaptation solutions. More information.

Date: June 08-10 2015
Location: Bonn, Germany
 State government in India to draw road map for disaster risk reduction

As one of the most vulnerable states in India, Bihar accounts for 17% of all flood prone areas in the country. For this reason, the state government of Bihar will convene a Conference on disaster risk reduction to establish a DRR roadmap for the period 2015-2030. Taking off from the World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction, the Conference will feature the four main areas outlined in the newly-agreed Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. Panel discussions will include risk informed development planning, ecosystem-based DRR, resilient cities, road safety and crowd management,knowledge management, "building back better" and financial resilience. The aim of the Conference is to develop a roadmap that will reduce current and future disaster impacts, given that disasters, such as earthquakes, floods and droughts account for more than 1% of Bihar's GDP. Read more
Video of the week

Eco-DRR project in Afghanistan
The Bamyan region of Afghanistan is vulnerable to avalanches and floods that damage crops and cattle, which are vital to Bamyan communities. In order to mitigate these disasters, UNEP and the Conservation Organisation for Afghan Mountain Areas (COAM), in collaboration with the Government of Afghanistan and the European Commission, have implemented Eco-DRR measures including tree planting and re-seeding along slopes and riverbanks. Adopting a landscape approach, the project links individual communities into village clusters to promote green and resilient local development planning. 
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Please send your news alert for us to feature: pedrr.secretariat@gmail.com
News Writer: Ana Gomez
Copyright © 2015 Partnership for Environment and Disaster Risk Reduction (PEDRR), All rights reserved.

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