This document discusses ecosystem-based solutions for disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation. It raises questions about quantifying ecosystem services for erosion reduction and the economic costs and benefits of "green" versus conventional infrastructure. The document also discusses strategies for managing uncertainties, noting the links between ecosystems and hazards like landslides, flooding, coastal hazards, and how vegetation can help mitigate these. Hybrid green/gray infrastructure and the multiple benefits of ecosystem-based approaches are presented. The document advocates increasing scientific knowledge, capacity building, and policy around ecosystem-based disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation.

1. Sudmeier, K. Senior Researcher, UNIL / UNEP
KNOW 4 DRR
Chambéry
May 27, 2015
University of Lausanne, Institute of Earth Sciences
Ecosystem-based solutions for
disaster risk reduction and
climate change adaptation:
addressing uncertainties

2. 1. Why do ecosystems matter for disaster risk
reduction and adaptation?
2. Strategies for managing uncertainties?
Questions

3. Credit: I. Penna
April, 2014
Roads in Nepal: socio-ecological-
disaster linkages

4. Credit: G. Leibundgut
Ecosystems Protecting Infrastructure
and Communities, Nepal (2012-2017)
• How to quantify ecosystem services for erosion reduction?
• Economic costs and benefits of bio-engineered or “green
roads” vs.“grey”/conventionally constructed roads?
• How effective are various commonly used bio-engineering
plants in slope stabilization, considering climate change
factors?

5. Workshop ended 5 minutes before the
earthquake…
Credit: K. Sudmeier

6. Epicenter- EQ1
25 April 2015
Origin time 11:56:26
Magnitude 7.8Mw or
8.1 Ms
Depth 15.0 km
(9.3 mi)
Epicenter 28.147°N
84.708°ECo
ordinates:
28.147°N
84.708°E
120
aftershocks
as of May 1
6.7Mw on
25 April
6.7Mw on
26 April
Casualties of
of May 25
8,000 +

7. Nepal 2015, 3,000+ earthquake-induced
landslides
Source: Earthquakes without Frontiers blog, ICIMOD/ EWF

8. Earthquake - ecosystem linkages?
Kashmir,
Pakistan

9. Pakistan 2005: 3,000+ earthquake-
induced landslides

10. Results: remote sensing, field study
• 100 landslides profiled
• 17 km 2 surface area
• 84 on right bank
• Similar geology and slope
gradient (50-55°)
• Private ownership vs. state
regulated
• Vegetation cover highly
degraded on right bank
• 56% grazing, followed by
occurrence of roads
Sudmeier-Rieux et al. (2011)
Correlated by Peduzzi (2010)

11. Ecosystem linkages?

12. Why do disasters matter to sustainable devt?
www.keywordpicture.com
Knowledgeallianz.com
2004hurricanes.com
Tropical Storm Jeanne, 2004
6,000 casualties in Haiti
18 casualties in Dominican
Republic
USD 7 billion total damages

13. Strategies for managing uncertainties?
Question 2

14. Credit: Sudmeier- Rieux
Mountain vegetation – avalanches,
landslides, rockfall

15. Riverine and wetlands - flooding
El Cangrecal river, Honduras© C Warmenbol 2007

16. Coastal vegetation – coastal hazards
©IUCN Thailand

17. www.photoeverywhere.co.ukSri Lanka ©McAdoo
Sand dunes, coral reefs, sea grasses –
coastal hazards

18. Sri Lanka©McAdoo
Hybrid grey / green infrastructure ?

19. Co-benefits
Main
targets
Multiple benefits of Eco-DRR /EbA

21. Global uptake of Eco-DRR / EbA

22. Partnership for Environment and
Disaster Risk Reduction
• Scientific knowledge and dissemination
• Capacity building
• Policy and advocacy
(www.pedrr.org)

23. Addressing uncertainties…
• MOOC: Disasters and
Ecosystems: Resilience in a
Changing Climate
• 12,000 + participants
• Post-graduate course for
Universities
• Training of Instructors
workshops
• National workshops
• New book in 2016
• Global literature review on Eco-
DRR

24. Environment at all stages of the spiral
©Lloyd- Jones

25. THANK YOU!
karen.sudmeier-rieux@unil.ch
Credit: Sudmeier- Rieux