International Symposium“Biodiversity and Sustainability: Linking People and Nature”
Tokyo, Japan, 12 March 2017

From being “on the map” to really taking off: next
steps for ecosystem-based disaster risk reduction

Dr. Fabrice Renaud
United Nations University
Institute for Environment and Human Security

Being “on the map”: Eco-DRR/CCA
The role of ecosystems will need to be
The Paris Agreement recognises
taken
into account in disaster risk agreements
and major
international
protecting the integrity of ecosystems
assessments (Priority Action 1),
strengthening risk governance (PriorityAction 2) and investmentsin disaster resilience (Priority Action 3)

and biodiversity for both climatechange mitigation and adaptation
actions

By 2030, ensure sustainable food production
CBD Decision XII/20 on Biodiversity andsystems and implement resilient agricultural
practices that increase productivity and Climate Change and DRR recognises that
production, that help maintain ecosystems,the conservation and sustainable use ofResolution 13 of the Ramsar Convention
that strengthen capacity for adaptation to biodiversity and restoration of ecosystems
on wetlands and disaster risk reduction
climate change, extreme weather, drought,can play a significant role in climate change
strongly encourages
countries
tomitigation
and adaptation,
combatingflooding and other disasters and thatmainstream disaster risk reduction
progressively improve land and soil quality desertification and disaster risk reduction
measures in wetland management plans

Source: Adapted from Chapters 1 and 24 of Renaud et al (2016): Ecosystem-Based Disaster Risk Reduction and Adaptation in Practice, Springer.
DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-43633-3_1

Next steps for broader
adoption on the ground?

Suggestions for Way
ForwardArticulating “Golden Rules” on ecologicalengineering for Eco-DRR, or principles that canbe used for policy advocacy
Accelerating the process of establishingecological engineering standards• Identify gaps in existing standards,• Gather information on standards,• Organize expert workshop to develop a researchroadmap as well as priorities for action

Source: PEDRR (2016): Workshop report - Innovating Engineering and Ecosystem-based Approaches for Disaster Risk Reduction

Existing guidelines

Example: Ecosystems &Wave height reduction
 n = 69 studies
 Coral reefs~70%
 Salt marshes~72%
 Mangroves~31% Seagrass/Kelpbed ~36%

Absolute wave reduction extents are plotted against incident wave
height for a) coral reefs (n = 27); b) mangroves (n = 11); c) salt-marshes(n = 14); d) seagrass/kelp beds (n = 5). This plot excludes measurementsthat do not report incoming wave heights.

Source: Narayan et al (2016): The Effectiveness, Costs and Coastal Protection Benefits of Natural and Nature-Based Defences. PLoS ONE 11(5): e0154735. doi:10.1371/ journal.pone.0154735

Example: Resistance of trees during atsunami
 Trunk bending andbreaking were closely
related to tsunami water
depth and hydrodynamicparameters Tree overturning was
found to be more site
specific, and the root-soil
strength greatly affected
the critical value Debris trapping but also
secondary damage topeople and buildings
Source: Tanaka et al (2012): Breaking pattern and critical breaking condition of Japanese pine trees on coastal sand dunes in huge tsunami caused by Great East Japan Earthquake. Nat Hazards
65:423–442

New initiatives ondevelopment of guidelines
The meeting will focus on producing
guidelines for the effectiveimplementation of green and hybrid
solutions to reduce flood risk in urban,riverine, and coastal settings.
Upcoming (end 2017): IJDRR Special
Issue Innovating Engineering andEcosystem-based Approaches for
Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate
Change Adaptation•••

Editors: Whelchel (TNC), Renaud (UNU),
Sudmieier-Rieux (UNEP), Sebesvari (UNU)
15 papers planned (technical, economic,policy aspects)
Case studies from the Bangladesh, Brazil, EU,India, Japan, Nepal, the Netherlands,
Switzerland, USA

THANK YOU!

UNITED NATIONS UNIVERSITY
Institute for Environmentand Human Security (UNU-EHS)
Platz der Vereinten Nationen 1
53113 Bonn, Germany
e-mail: renaud@ehs.unu.edu
www.ehs.unu.edu