ECOSYSTEM BASED DISASTER MANAGEMENT

Abhijeet S. Gandage*¹ and M.S. Ranadive²

1. Department of Civil Engineering, Maharashtra Institute of Technology, Pune (INDIA)
2. Department of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, Pune (INDIA)

*E-mail : abhijeetgandage@hotmail.com

Received on September 14, 2009 and accepted on December 14, 2009

ABSTRACT

Most of the disasters are caused due to neglect or uncontrolled exploitation of Natural Ecosystems. Well managed ecosystems can help to mitigate disasters like landslides, cyclones, floods. In case of long term Relief and Disaster Management works focus should be directed to development, protection and sustainance of ecosystems. Ecosystems can act as first line of defense for vulnerable community against disasters. Ecosystem Approach of Disaster Management aims at planning, designing and implementation of strategy to manage or restore ecosystems and their services that will help in satisfying human livelihood needs. Also it focuses on sensitizing human community on importance of ecosystem and their contributions and responsibilities in protecting the sustaining ecosystem. No efforts to restore ecosystems after a major disaster can cause significant economic and environmental losses and impose hardships on already vulnerable community. Ecosystem approach to Disaster Risk Reduction¹ includes the following –
1. Integrating Risk Reduction into eco-system management and development planning.
2. Post disaster strategies that focus on community livelihood recovery with minimum damage to ecosystem.
3. An emphasis to believe that ecosystems are natural barriers.
4. Community participation, involvement and preparedness.
Ecosystem approach based Disaster Risk Reduction involves close and integrated coordination between Emergency, humanitarian and environmental agencies. Ensuring planned and appropriate investments in Ecosystem management and restoration is necessary to help disaster affected societies to alleviate poverty and achieve economic growth. Not considering ecosystem management in disaster preparedness and post disaster situations will increase vulnerability of peoples lives and livelihoods. This paper will focus on a local case study of a man made disaster of garbage landfill problem at Urali Devachi in Pune City and the effect of this landfill on the neighbouring ecosystem factors like impact on agricultural production, groundwater pollution and probable measures to be adopted in averting such type of ecosystem catastrophes.

Keywords : Ecosystem, Disaster Management, Community Participation.