Real Risk

[

] 16

Given the enormous humanitarian concerns, the need to

adapt existing policies to emergency situations proved an

important step. UNEP has been working with the Government

of Sri Lanka to carry out rapid environmental impact assess-

ments of over 400 housing sites. In Indonesia, UNEP has

supported the development of screening mechanisms for the

vast number of reconstruction projects underway. Similarly,

building codes that call for disaster-resilient construction and

policies that promote the use of sustainable building materi-

als hold promise.

Spatial planning procedures and other decision-support tools

also contribute strongly to the recovery process. In Sri Lanka,

UNEP is working with environmental authorities to advance

the use of Strategic Environmental Assessments (SEAs) for

township planning; these assessments are being adapted to

consider disaster risk and vulnerability in the planning process.

With the support of new policies on the use of SEAs, decision

makers have access to important information about the impli-

cations of alternative planning choices. In Indonesia, UNEP is

working with government agencies and recovery partners to

advance an environmental framework to guide local level recov-

ery efforts. Such approaches, once institutionalized, are helpful

to the recovery process while also supporting broader nation-

wide efforts to promote sustainable development.

From where we stand

The past 18 months have seen perhaps the best-documented

disaster response in history. It is clear, however, that even with

the best intentions, not all innovations have been successful.

However, lessons have been learnt from all of them. From the

earliest days, UNEP worked closely with national governments

and other partner organizations to find viable solutions to the

environmental concerns raised by the disaster and the follow-

ing recovery process, and many of these are relevant to disaster

risk reduction.

While more careful analysis of what worked and what did

not is required, it seems that the environment will no longer be

the silent victim of disasters, and that opportunities to protect

the vital ecosystem services that support sustainable and disas-

ter-resilient communities will continue to grow. As a result, it

may be said with confidence that the work of post-disaster

recovery will never be the same.

Damage to ecosystems, Aceh, Sumatra, Indonesia

10 Jan 2003

29 Dec 2004

Fish Ponds

Mangroves

Corals

Rice Fields

Small Lake in

Rice Field

Indonesia

Sumatra

ARABIAN

SEA

Kuede

Jantho

Sabang

Lambada

Gleeburk

Melingge

Seumileum

Anoi Itam

BANDA

ACEH

Image: Akiko Harayama, 2005. Based on IKONOS image

CRISP 2004, National University of Singapore. Courtesy of UNEP/GRID-Europe