Disaster Risk Management For Coastal Tourism Destinations - DTIE

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Disaster Risk Management For Coastal Tourism Destinations Responding To Climate Change A Practical Guide For Decision Makers 1) Development programs that focus on poverty reduction and that seek to 2) Programs that seek to improve the capacity of institutions and systems and that overlap with adaptation activities, e.g. development of more robust communications systems, planning processes, weather monitoring & forecasting mapping and natural resource management. 3) Programs designed to manage climate risk by incorporating climate information into decision-making e.g. disaster response planning, drought- melting. The WRI adaptation report concludes that “…adaptation needs to be regarded as a ‘big tent’ encompassing the full range of responses – from reducing poverty and building capacity, to managing risk and directly confronting climate change impacts”. This Handbook accepts and endorses climate adaptation as a strategy for risk management and reduction. Apart from the focus on building capacity and resilience within the community, the Handbook will also promote the preservation of key ecosystem services through biological diversity as a mitigation strategy. There is undoubtedly any number or type of mitigation and adaptation programs ongoing at tourism-based economies. The idea is to combine traditional development approaches with risk evaluation and reduction planning for the overall goal of building community resilience. Disaster managers, decision makers and tourism industry personnel, will therefore need to reshape their own thinking and practices beyond traditional boundaries and to embrace the realities of climate change. Collaboration and partnership between multi-stakeholders, across sectors and with varying skills, resources and expertise, are essential in order to confront the challenge of climate-induced hazards. 2.5 Small Island Developing States (SIDs) SIDs are limited by their smallness yet well known for their natural, human, and cultural resources which are key tourism assets. These assets and resources are often exposed to persistent stressors and are fast degrading because of a combination of limited capacity and weak institutional structures for the monitoring and control of development and enforcement of legislation. SIDS’ topographic island character, azure seas and beaches serve as a magnet for coastal tourism and prime commercial real estate development. Caught within vast ocean spaces, SIDS’ low land-to-sea ratios also make them highly vulnerable to tropical hazards especially cyclones, storm surges, and tsunamis. season, which weaken local and indigenous community defenses, infrastructure, and property. 26 | Climate Change, Disasters And Tourism
Disaster Risk Management For Coastal Tourism Destinations Responding To Climate Change A Practical Guide For Decision Makers SIDs are particularly vulnerable to global climate variability and sea level rise. One essential fact is that 13 of 25 of the most disaster prone countries are SIDS (Barbados Programme of Action, BPoA, 1994). As their expanding populations demand more services from sectors such as housing, agriculture and tourism, weaknesses in environmental and disaster management capabilities. When exposed to natural disasters, the vulnerabilities of SIDS have had a pervasive impact on their populations, economies and environmental resources. The disaster recovery effort also becomes a huge and costly burden with dire consequences for their economies and vulnerable populations. Studies completed in 2007 assessing climate change impacts and adaptation strategies for SIDS and other Asian, African and Latin American destinations, concluded the following: “Multiple factors converge to make the people inhabiting coastal zones and small islands highly vulnerable. Coasts and small islands are highly exposed to a variety of climate hazards that may be affected by global climate change. The climatic hazards converge with local and regional human pressures to create conditions of high vulnerability, particularly in areas with high concentrations of people and infrastructure in low-lying coasts.” (AIACC, November 2007). These climate-induced vulnerabilities are frequently exacerbated by “non-climate drivers” that include poor land use decisions and actions, degraded wetland and reef ecosystems, inadequate disaster preparedness and advance warning systems, high dependency on tourism and persistent pollution. Similarly, population centres and vulnerable communities, tourism, utility and other infrastructure located within narrow coastal zones, are also part of the social fabric now at risk from elevated sea levels and more extreme disaster events. In particular, small island communities will struggle with more limited options for alternative livelihoods, shelter and food supplies. Additionally, at small island destinations in and drought or salt water intrusion can amplify water demand in the tourism sectors there and increase shortages and cost of operations. 2 “The AIACC studies suggest that the potential severity and risk of many climate change outcomes are less where social, economic and governance systems function in ways that enable effective responses to prevent, cope with, recover from and adapt to adverse impacts.” (AIACC, 2007) It is therefore essential for disaster managers and coastal communities in SIDS to be deeply and conjointly engaged in the process of appraising and preparing for the risks of global warming. The 1994 SIDS’ BPoA, also advocates for national policies, strategies and actions to strengthen disaster preparedness institutions, regulatory and enforcement systems, encourage stakeholder, community and media participation, as a disaster mitigation strategy. Furthermore, the BPoA encourages SIDS to take advantage of regional and international support, assistance and expertise. sure to limit the costs of recovery tomorrow. 27
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The sustainability of coastal touri
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