Mission

Our mission is to gives advice on reducing vulnerability and increasing resilience to natural hazards so as to protect humans, structures, critical facilities, infrastructures, natural resources, and enhance sustainable development

Natural Hazard Mitigation

Natural hazard mitigation is actions taken to reduce vulnerability and increase resilience to natural hazards so as to protect humans, structures, critical facilities, infrastructures, natural resources, and enhance sustainable developments. Its long-term focus and proactive nature distinguish hazard mitigation from the more immediate and reactive activities taken during disaster preparedness, response, and recovery. Hazard mitigation is the only phase of emergency management dedicated to breaking the cycle of damage, reconstruction, and repeated damage from disasters incurred by natural hazards. Hazard mitigation includes measures ranging from structural engineering and building code standards to land use planning and property acquisition or elevation.

Disasters incurred by natural hazards generally leave a profound imprint on communities impacted by such disasters. In many hazard-prone communities, a combination of factors have changed the way people view natural hazards: The personal experience of social and economical disruption from such disasters; the recognition that disasters directly impact the quality of life of a community; the recognition that communities can intervene to break the cycle of disaster damage, and in the process, assume responsibility for making their structures, infrastructures, critical facilities and natural resources less vulnerable and more resilient to the forces of nature.

The concept of sustainable development is increasingly under discussion, which recognises the limits of the earth’s resources, and importance of managing development in a manner that does not compromise the ability of future generation to meet their own needs. Hazard mitigation is an important component in the concept of sustainable development. Cities can enhance sustainability by siting their structures, critical facilities and infrastructures in areas that are not hazard-prone, using design and construction techniques that strengthen structures and infrastructure against the forces of wind, water, and ground shaking; promoting sustainable housing, and businesses that are able to function following a disaster event; promoting sustainable agriculture that incorporates the principles of hazard mitigation into all aspects of agricultural production; conserving natural resources, including forests, wetlands, beaches, dunes, floodplain, and riparian areas, all of which play important, stabilising roles in ecosystems and serve as natural buffers.

Defining Sustainable Development