4. Planning and Land Management

I will briefly introduce you to the Global Assessment Report on disaster risk reduction. This has been prepared by the Cassidy Johnson and her team. In 2011, this has been developed by ISDR. It is a creating and enabling environment for reducing disasters risk. Recent experience of regulatory frameworks for land, planning and building in low and middle-income countries.

The Global Assessment Report is a comprehensive document focused on reducing disaster risks, especially in low and middle-income countries. It was prepared to help create an environment where risks related to disasters can be minimized through better land use and building regulations.

Think of this report like a guidebook for a new board game. Just as the guidebook teaches players how to navigate the rules and make strategic moves, this report provides countries with insights on how to plan their land and infrastructure to avoid disaster risks.

When we talk about the reducing disaster risks in the built environment, there are 2 approaches to it; one is the location approach, the second one is the design approach.

To reduce disaster risks, there are two main approaches: the location approach and the design approach. The location approach focuses on where buildings and infrastructure are placed, ensuring that they are not situated in high-risk areas. The design approach, on the other hand, refers to how buildings are constructed and what safety codes are followed to ensure resilience against disasters.

Imagine you are building a sandcastle. Choosing a stable spot away from waves (location approach) will help keep your castle from being washed away. Meanwhile, using wet sand to bind the castle and making tall walls (design approach) will keep it strong against the tide.

When we say land-use planning means obviously, there are different processes, that goes hand in hand to each other and it goes in a particular sequence. Like for instance, we also identify the areas that are risk from hazards.

Land-use planning involves a systematic process where planners identify areas that may be at risk from disasters, such as floods or landslides. This identification helps in making informed decisions about where to build and how to plan communities.

Think of it as preparing a backpack for a school trip. First, you check the weather (identifying risks) to decide what to pack (plan your land use). If it’s going to rain, you’ll make sure to include an umbrella and wear waterproof shoes (mitigating potential hazards).

The second one is we do with the zoning aspect; also we designated these areas through zoning or strategic spatial planning.

Zoning is a method used in land-use planning to classify different areas based on their risk levels (high, medium, low). This strategic spatial planning helps in making sure that higher-risk zones are not developed for housing or critical infrastructure.

Imagine organizing a school fair. You wouldn’t put the food stands too close to the games at the edge of a hill (zoning for safety). Instead, you would make sure each section is spaced out to avoid chaos and ensure everyone is safe from potential spills or accidents.

The important challenge in both the approaches is, first of all, we do have the regulatory frameworks but in the developing countries under low and middle-income countries to what extent they are adopted in a full-scale or strictly they have been adopted.

While there are regulations in place to govern land management and building design, implementing these regulations effectively in developing countries often faces challenges. Issues like poverty, lack of education, and cultural factors can hinder adherence to these important frameworks.

Imagine having a recipe for a delicious cake but lacking the right ingredients or tools to bake it properly. Similarly, even with great disaster risk management regulations, if the resources or training aren't available, the effectiveness is significantly reduced.

One has to look at a strategic way, how even if the event is not had occurred how we can plan for it.

Planning for disaster risk reduction should not only happen after a disaster occurs. Planners need to take preventive actions even when there are no immediate threats, ensuring that communities are prepared and resilient.

It's like a fire drill in school. Regular practice ensures everyone knows what to do in case of a fire. It’s about being prepared, not just reactive when the alarm goes off.

There should be some coordination what about the middle areas which are in between, the sandwiched areas between the local clearance people and the highway clearance people.

Successful planning and land management require collaboration among various governmental departments. It’s vital for them to communicate and work together to address any overlaps or gaps in responsibility, especially in disaster risk management.

Consider a soccer team; each player has to understand their position and work together to score a goal. If defenders don’t communicate with attackers, it could lead to missed opportunities or even losing the game.

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