International symposium on ecosystem-based disaster risk reduction

Asia is known as a disaster-prone region, with various natural disasters such as earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, landslides and forest fires. The frequent occurrence of natural disasters in the region is due not only to meteorological and geographical factors, but also to growing populations, urbanization in coastal zones, inappropriate land use and ecosystem degradation. Ecosystem-based disaster risk reduction (eco-DRR) is usually inexpensive in terms of construction and maintenance costs compared with measures depending on artificial infrastructure. It is also a no-loss strategy which can provide a wide range of benefits such as improvement of landscapes and local livelihoods, regardless of whether a disaster occurs or not. Nevertheless, ecosystem-based disaster risk reduction measures tend to be forgotten, and promoting eco-DRR is one of the common challenges for the region.

At this international symposium, experts from Japan who have been working on reconstruction after the Great East Japan Earthquake of March 2011, as well as foreign experts participating in the 1st Asia Parks Congress, will share their knowledge, experience and views through keynote speeches and panel discussions, and identify challenges and the future direction of eco-DRR.