Environmental guidance note for disaster risk reduction : healthy ecosystems for human security

Investment in sustainable ecosystem management can offer cost-effective solutions to reducing community vulnerability to disasters. Healthy ecosystems are beneficial to local populations for the many benefits and products they provide, whilst acting as natural buffers to hazard events for flood abatement, slope stabilization, coastal protection and avalanche protection. This publication was developed to provide guidance on the benefits of, and ways to integrate environmental concerns into disaster risk reduction strategies (DRR) at the local and national levels. The field of disaster risk management has evolved to recognize the need for addressing development issues for reducing risk, but the environmental dimension has yet to receive adequate attention and practical guidance.