Vital GEO Graphics

Threatened Livelihoods A number of factors are bringing about an increased risk of natural disasters, threatening hundreds of thousands of people and their livelihoods. Growing global population means there is an ever-increasing strain on food sup- plies and environmental resources. Ever larger numbers of people are settling in coastal areas, which are exposed to hurricanes, tidal surges and rising sea levels. As population pressures in coastal areas increase, many coastal and marine ecosystems – and most freshwater eco- systems – have continued to be heavily degraded, with many completely lost, some irreversibly. Natural hazards have severe adverse impacts on lives and socio-economic de- velopment in SIDS and low-laying costal areas in other developing countries. Hur- ricanes and tidal waves that hit Bang- ladesh and Burma in recent years not only resulted in thousands being killed but also significantly affected economic development. The economies of SIDS are particularly vulnerable to the adverse impact of hurri- canes. Sea level rise and the increasing frequency and severity of extreme events threaten livelihoods and limit adapta- tion options. Rising seas are also likely to induce large-scale migration among the SIDS in the longer term, which could lead to conflict. Abandoning islands would also result in the loss of sovereignty and highlights the need to reconsider traditional develop- ment issues as matters of national and regional security.

Disaster preparedness and well-being The graph below illustrates linkages between vulnerability to natural disasters and poverty. With more money to spend, a country can better prepare its people against disaster. Looking at more detailed statistics, in 2004, Hurricane Jeanne claimed more than 2 700 victims in Haiti, while in the Dominican Republic fewer than 20 lost their lives. This was no coincidence. Dominicans are, on average, four times richer, are better prepared in terms of education and training, and benefit from improved infrastructure and housing. D ownload G raphic 2

Caribbean casualties due to hurricanes

Human development index

Deaths/million people exposed/year

Annual deforestation rate (per cent)

7

1.0

14

12

6

0.9

10

5

0.8

8

4

0.7

3

0.6

6

2

0.5

4

1

0.4

2

0

0.3

0

–1

0.2

0.1

–2

Sources: CRED 2004, FAO 2000, UNDP 2001, UNEP/DEWA/GRID-Europe Preview 2002

USA

Haiti

Cuba

Belize

Mexico

Jamaica

Guatemala

Dominican Republic

The satellite image below illustrates another factor, that of environmental degradation. The Dominican Republic has over 28 per cent forest cover, while Haiti had reduced its forest cover from 25 per cent in 1950 to 1 per cent by 2004. In the image, deforested Haiti is to the left, while the Dominican Republic is the greener area to the right. This environmental aspect is significant, because many victims drowned or died in mudflows, phenomena strongly influenced by land cover change.

0

5 km

Credit: NASA 2002

25 D I SAST ERS AND CONF L I CTS