Solving the dilemma of transforming landslide hazard maps into effective policy and regulations

DeGraff, Jerome V.

doi:10.5194/nhess-12-53-2012

Cited by 15 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…The challenge for LS-DRR is thus not only a lack of available appropriate mitigation measures (Corominas et al, 2013) but also the poor translation of LS risk assessment into actual slope management (e.g. DeGraff, 2012; Majid et al, 2007; UNISDR, 2014). This is also illustrated by the fact that there has been a minimal uptake of LS hazard maps and vulnerability assessments into policy actions by governments, as argued by Anderson et al (2014) based on evidence from Caribbean countries.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Mertens et al, 2016 Figure 7). This might be attributed to the fact that risk assessment is considered the first step towards LS risk management (Crozier and Glade, 2005;DeGraff, 2012), which can also be seen in our literature review from the fact that 53% of recommended measures are made in case risk assessment was already implemented. The large focus on scientific knowledge about LS cannot only be attributed to the fact that we restrict this review to peer-reviewed scientific literature, as a comparison with literature including grey literature for Uganda shows that the preference for implementing LS risk assessment is visible in both reviews (Figure 8).…”

Section: Drr Componentmentioning

confidence: 85%

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Landslide risk reduction measures: A review of practices and challenges for the tropics

Maes

Kervyn

Hontheim

et al. 2017

Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment

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The overall objective of this review is to gain insights into landslide risk reduction measures that are applied or recommended in tropical landslide-prone countries, and the challenges at play. More specifically, this review aims to (i) presenting an overview of recent studies on landslides and landslide risk reduction in these countries, (ii) exploring the factors controlling the publication output on landslides and landslide risk reduction, (iii) reviewing the various landslide risk reduction measures recommended and implemented, and (iv) identifying the bottlenecks for the implementation of these strategies. A compilation of recommended and implemented landslide risk reduction measures in 99 landslide-prone tropical countries was made, based on an extensive review of scientific literature (382 publications). The documented measures are analysed using a scheme of risk reduction measures that combines classifications of the Hyogo Framework for Action and the SafeLand project. Our literature review shows that the factors influencing the number of publications on landslides and landslide risk reduction per country are (in order of importance) the absolute physical exposure of people to landslides, the population number and the Human Development Index of a country. The ratio of publications on landslide risk reduction versus publications on landslides for landslide-prone tropical countries does not vary much between these countries (average: 0.28). A significant fraction (0.30) of all known landslide hazard reduction measures are neither implemented nor recommended according to our review. The most recommended landslide risk reduction component is ‘risk management and vulnerability reduction’ (0.38). However, the most implemented component is ‘risk assessment’ (0.57). Overall, the ratio of implemented versus recommended landslide risk reduction measures in the tropics is low (<0.50) for most landslide risk reduction components, except for ‘risk assessment’ (3.01). The most cited bottlenecks for implementing landslide risk reduction measures are scientific (0.30) and political (0.29) in nature.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Drr Componentmentioning

confidence: 85%

Landslide risk reduction measures: A review of practices and challenges for the tropics

Maes

Kervyn

Hontheim

et al. 2017

Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment

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“…While important to landslide hazard reduction, the presence of well-trained practicing professionals and effective outreach and education to the public are insufficient to fully accomplish this task. There must be a response to the information provided by both knowledgeable professionals and the public to actually achieve loss reduction (DeGraff, 2012;DeGraff et al, 2015a). The state geological surveys provide a framework for this response as it is carried out at multiple levels involving state and local government.…”

Section: Implementation Of Loss Reduction Measuresmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Given the potential number of local governmental bodies in the United States, determining how many have implemented mandatory measures to prevent or reduce landslide damage is difficult to assess. There are certainly documented examples in parts of California, Colorado, and Utah (Fleming et al, 1979;McCalpin, 1985;and DeGraff, 2012). While these examples of mandated measures generally remain in effect now, it should be noted that none of them was instituted after 1995.…”

Section: Implementation Of Loss Reduction Measuresmentioning

confidence: 99%

Landslide Risk Reduction in the United States—Signs of Progress

Graff¹,

Burns²,

McConnell³

2016

Environmental & Engineering Geoscience

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Scientific literature is replete with papers describing advances in applying new technologies to the study of landslides and advances in our understanding of factors affecting landslide occurrence, distribution, and movement. Far fewer papers look at how this knowledge is implemented to achieve landslide risk reduction. State and local governments exercise the greatest control on how landslide risk reduction is accomplished. Data generated from a questionnaire to state geological surveys, review of their agency Web sites, and two case studies demonstrate that progress has been made during the last 20 years in implementing actionable policy changes and programs to achieve a reduction is landslide risk in the United States. Progress is evident from the pivotal role played by state and local government in the areas of: (1) developing guidelines and training, (2) increasing public awareness and education, (3) implementing loss reduction measures, and (4) conducting emergency preparedness, response, and recovery. The number of states requiring registration for practicing geologists has nearly doubled during the last 20 years. This increase was accompanied by a shift from individual state tests as part of determining competency to a uniform national test. During this period, state geological surveys established Web sites as a primary means for promoting public awareness and education about landslide hazards. Measures reducing the impact of landslides have included providing information specific to residents and landowners, as well as supporting land-use planning efforts by local governments. Many state geological surveys are involved with emergency management of landslide hazards.

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“…Risk zonation policy refers to the regulations which apply to certain zones of high risk. These regulations include zoning, use restrictions, maintenance requirements, and development standards (DeGraff, 2012). In other words, disaster risk zonation policy is a form of 'land use planning', meaning: the process undertaken by public authorities to identify, evaluate and decide on different options for the use of land, including consideration of long term economic, social and environmental objectives and the implications for different communities and interest groups, and the subsequent formulation and promulgation of plans that describe the permitted or acceptable uses.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Socio-political drivers and consequences of landslide and flood risk zonation: A case study of Limbe city, Cameroon

Maes

Molombe

Mertens³

et al. 2018

Environment and Planning C: Politics and Space

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Disaster risk zonation is often proposed as a long-term disaster risk reduction strategy by international treaties and academic research. This strategy has been implemented in the city of Limbe, which is known to be a disaster-prone one. Citizens are forced to settle in unsafe terrains, ranging from wetlands to unstable hillslopes due to the city’s geographical location and economic attraction. Following the fatal landslides and floods in 2001, a local crisis committee identified affected areas and declared them ‘risk zones’ to prevent further exposure. Empirically, this study narrates the production and implementation of risk zonation policy in the city of Limbe. Theoretically, it uses an urban political ecology perspective, which incorporates science and technology studies, post-political theory and disaster research to interpret the drivers and implications of the mismatch between research, policy and action. In this case study, we investigate the implications for disaster risk reduction by describing three underlying socio-political drivers of the risk zonation policy: (i) authoritarian science regime, (ii) post-political discourse, and (iii) blame diversion. We argue that authorities from national to local level use a post-political discourse to promote and implement disaster risk reduction in the city of Limbe through the development and the application of risk zonation policy. As a consequence, risk zonation leads to poor enforcement of the law and corruption, ultimately leading to risk accumulation in this case. This analysis allows us to draw broader conclusions on drivers and implications of the implementation of disaster risk zonation policy in urban areas that are primarily governed hierarchically and prone to corruption.

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Solving the dilemma of transforming landslide hazard maps into effective policy and regulations

Cited by 15 publications

References 17 publications

Landslide risk reduction measures: A review of practices and challenges for the tropics

Landslide risk reduction measures: A review of practices and challenges for the tropics

Landslide Risk Reduction in the United States—Signs of Progress

Socio-political drivers and consequences of landslide and flood risk zonation: A case study of Limbe city, Cameroon

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