Announcement of "Ecosystem-based approach to disaster risk reduction" and Publication of Handbook "Ecosystem-based Disaster Risk Reduction in Japan"

It has been recognized that healthy ecosystems contribute to mitigate natural disasters. For example, forests prevent soil erosion, seaside tree plants mitigate tsunami disaster, and swamps prevent temporarily flood.

Ministry of the Environment released "Ecosystem-based approach to disaster risk reduction" that describes function of ecosystem-based disaster reduction (Eco-DRR) and methodologies of ecosystem utilization. And, for better understanding of the said approach we published a handbook titled "Ecosystem-based Disaster Risk Reduction in Japan - a handbook for practitioners-".

"Ecosystem-based approach to disaster risk reduction" shows a background concept of responses by individuals or regional communities to natural disasters in such manners as to prevent human lives and properties from exposure to natural hazards through keeping ecosystem conserved, restored, or maintained and to respond to natural disasters utilizing ecosystem as a buffer zone/item together with various functions such as food supply and water supply.

This approach has drawn attentions internationally after the Great Indian Ocean Tsunami as well as domestically after the Great East Japan Earthquake.

Ministry of the Environment set up a relevant study committee respectively in FY2014 and FY2015 to investigate domestic and international relevant information and cases, and formulated "Ecosystem-based approach to disaster risk reduction". This paper summarizes roles of the ecosystem that contributes to mitigate disaster risks, contemplates region-wide future, and demonstrates, together with case studies, fundamental views required to proceed with Eco-DRR as well as methodologies to utilize ecosystem. Also, to widely disseminate this approach, we prepared a handbook titled "Ecosystem-based Disaster Risk Reduction in Japan - a handbook for practitioners-" that compiles the summary of the above-mentioned approach.

1. Natural disaster and ecosystem
2. Why is Eco-DRR necessary for our future in Japan?
3. How ecosystem contributes to disaster reduction
4. Key points of view in adopting Eco-DRR approach
5. Utilization of ecosystem for disaster reduction
6. Direction of measures to be taken in the future

• Why is Eco-DRR necessary for our future in Japan?
• Benefits and advantages of Eco-DRR
• Traditional Eco-DRR approaches
• Ecosystem-based approaches for disaster risk reduction
• Key points in adopting Eco-DRR approaches
• Reference examples
• Q&A