How to fight natural disasters

Natural hazards like droughts and floods cannot be prevented, but we can lessen the damage they cause. Most local governments seem to have missed the opportunity to guard against the impact of natural hazards. The lack of a comprehensive national policy requiring local governments to guard against natural hazards like droughts and floods has aggravated the situation.

Last year, the ADB completed two studies on drought and flood management for China, which said the country's drought management strategy is "stuck" in a reactive mode. China's flood and drought management strategies are similar. They react to emergencies and limit their response until after an emergency has been declared.

Greater risk assessment, proper monitoring and an early warning system would greatly reduce the response time and cost - and in turn reduce the damage and rebuilding costs.

China does not have a separate disaster risk management agency. Instead, risk management responsibilities are divided among several agencies, which are brought together through strong central control. The country thus "reacts" to natural hazards instead of focusing its policy and directing its resources to determine disaster cycles.

China's focus on disaster management should be extended to six-step risk management: early warning, monitoring and forecasting; risk assessment; risk mitigation; impact mitigation and emergency responses; recovery, evaluation and contingency planning; and stakeholder participation and public education and awareness.

An integrated approach is critical to creating reserves and enabling ecosystem service to function during droughts and floods and to devise long-term plans. A forthcoming joint publication by ADB, the Ministry of Water Resources and Guiyang city explores a "holistic pathway", using optimal infrastructure, risk management, ecosystem conservation and integrated river basin management.

In China, where climate change is creating unpredictable weather patterns - and thus more droughts and floods - regulating the services provided by ecosystems is important for adapting to climate change and reducing the risks of natural disasters. Examples of such services include climate and water regulation, protection from natural hazards, water and air purification, carbon sequestration, and disease and pest regulation.

If China does not focus its plans to reduce the risks and impact of natural disasters, droughts and floods will continue to cause even greater economic loss.

Zhang Qingfeng is principal water resources specialist at ADB, and Melissa Howell Alipalo is a staff consultant to ADB water and environment operations. They are co-authors of a forthcoming book, Drying Up: What to do About Drought in the PRC.

(China Daily 06/28/2011 page9)