Urban Systems during Disasters: Factors for Resilience

Wallace, Deborah; Wallace, Rodrick

doi:10.5751/es-02386-130118

Cited by 64 publications

(40 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…High biodiversity is widely considered to be a favorable attribute because it can proffer greater functional redundancy [128,129] and resilience [13,130], akin to portfolio financial management in which a diverse investment portfolio buffers against acute and destabilizing change [131]. Greater biodiversity may also increase the availability of valued services and resources [13,[132][133][134].…”

Section: Abandonment Biodiversity and Emerging Infectious Diseasementioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, in neighboring St. Bernard Parish (LA, US), which was also redefined by precipitous population loss, regular and systematic maintenance of abandoned lots has inhibited the emergence of opportunistic species [9]. Evidence of contrasts elsewhere emphasizes how implementation of assertive public policy can mediate socioecological outcomes of counter-urbanization [13].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Abandonment, Ecological Assembly and Public Health Risks in Counter-Urbanizing Cities

et al. 2016

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Urban landscapes can be transformed by widespread abandonment from population and economic decline. Ecological assembly, sometimes referred to as "greening", following abandonment can yield valuable ecosystem services, but also can pose a risk to public health. Abandonment can elevate zoonotic vector-borne disease risk by favoring the hyperabundance of commensal pests and pathogen vectors. Though greater biodiversity in abandoned areas can potentially dilute vector-borne pathogen transmission, "greening" can elevate transmission risk by increasing movement of pathogen vectors between fragmented areas and by giving rise to novel human-wildlife interfaces. Idled and derelict infrastructure can further elevate disease risk from vector-borne and water-borne pathogens, which can build up in stagnant and unprotected water that maintenance and routine use of delivery or sanitation systems would otherwise eliminate. Thus, framing "greening" as inherently positive could result in policies and actions that unintentionally exacerbate inequalities by elevating risks rather than delivering benefits. As counter-urbanism is neither a minor pattern of urban development, nor a short-term departure from urban growth, homeowner and municipal management of abandoned areas should account for potential hazards to reduce health risks. Further socioecological assessments of public health risks following abandonment could better ensure the resilience and well-being of communities in shrinking cities.

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Section: Abandonment Biodiversity and Emerging Infectious Diseasementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Abandonment, Ecological Assembly and Public Health Risks in Counter-Urbanizing Cities

et al. 2016

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“…The ability of a geographical community to survive a disaster depends on the size of social networks in its neighbourhoods and on the interconnection between the social networks (Wallace and Wallace 2008). Without other forms of social control, for example, even the highest level of policing would not be able to keep violent crime rates low.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Most importantly, social networks play key roles in disasters to pick up the pieces and save families and the community. The neighbourhood forms a critical level of organisation between the individual or family level and the municipality and metropolitan region (Wallace and Wallace 2008).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Bronfenbrenner’s bioecological theory for modelling community resilience to natural disasters

et al. 2011

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This paper advocates the use of Bronfenbrenner's bioecological theory as a framework to analyse resilience at diverse scales. Bronfenbrenner's bioecological theory can be employed to (a) benchmark social resilience, (b) target the priority interventions required and (c) measure progress arising from these interventions to enhance resilience to natural disasters. First, the paper explores resilience to natural disasters in the context of climatic change as building resilience is seen as a way to mitigate impacts of natural disasters. Second, concepts of resilience are systematically examined and documented, outlining resilience as a trait and resilience as a process. Third, issues arising in relation to the measurement of resilience are discussed. Fourth, Bronfenbrenner's bioecological systems theory is described and proffered to model and assess resilience at different scales. Fifth, studies are described which have supported the use of the bioecological systems theory for the study of resilience. Sixth, an example of the use of Bronfenbrenner's theory is offered and the paper concludes with suggestions for future research using Bronfenbrenner's theory.Keywords Resilience · Natural disaster · Bronfenbrenner's bioecological theory · Community · Climate change 1 IntroductionThe world's climate is experiencing marked changes (IPCC 2007). These changes are set to be accompanied by an increase in the number and severity of natural disasters such as floods and droughts and present a need to formulate policy to deal with these predictions (Bosomworth and Handmer 2008;Bosher et al. 2009; COAG 2009;McBean and Rodgers 2010). In Australia, and elsewhere, we need to be prepared for rapid onset events such as wildfires, cyclones and floods and slow onset hazards such as drought.Emergency Management considers resilience essential for safeguarding communities or building safer communities. Disaster resilience is seen as a quality, characteristic or result that is developed by processes that foster or promote it. The ability of an individual, group, community or nation to deal with unique destabilising situations, or disaster resilience, is also seen as the …'shield', 'shock absorber' or buffer that moderates the outcome to ensure benign or small-scale negative consequences. Indeed, the goal of disaster risk management is to guarantee minimal loss of life and livelihoods and to allow the affected community or system to return to 'normal' within the shortest possible time. (Manyena 2006: 438) Prosser and Peters (2010) remind us that to support a disaster-resilient community, studies must focus on prevention, preparedness, response and recovery. Current Emer-gency Management policy in Australia (COAG 2009) and internationally (Berkes 2007;Folke et al. 2003; Tompkins and Adger 2004) concurs, asserting that building resilience into communities is essential in order to cope with climate change and concomitant natural disasters. This paper advocates the use of 2 Bronfenbrenner's bioecological theory as a framework to analyse com...

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“…Drawing from socio-technological systems thinking, transitions may be fast or slow, intentional or forced, proactive or reactive, planned or surprising and are often associated with resultant regime shifts and tipping points, i.e., moments of system alteration where rapid change could take place (Geels and Schot 2007). For example, Wallace and Wallace 2008, Ernstson et al 2010, Smith and Sterling 2010, Markard et al 2012 describe the conditions of transitions in urbanized settings and other human https://www.ecologyandsociety.org/vol22/iss2/art38/ Bentley et al 2014, Marin et al 2014, Rocha et al 2015 describe the conditions of tipping points and abrupt shifts within social and social-ecological systems. Resultant regime shifts are associated with large and persistent changes in the structure and function of a system that are often only recognizable after the fact.…”

Section: Four Risk Management Regimesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Transitions between risk management regimes in cities

Solecki¹,

Pelling²,

Garschagen³

2017

E&S

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ABSTRACT. Ongoing climate change is encouraging cities to reevaluate their risk management strategies. Urban communities increasingly are being forced to respond to climate shifts with actions that promote resistance, resilience, or even larger scale transformations. Our objective is to present a conceptual framework that facilitates examination of how the transition from one type of risk management strategy or regime to another takes place. The research framework is built around a set of assumptions regarding the process of transition between risk management regimes. The framework includes five basic conceptual elements: (1) risk management regimes, (2) development pathways, (3) activity spheres, (4) activity spaces, and (5) root, contextual, and proximate drivers. The interaction among these elements and the potential for transition between four different possible regime states including resistance, resilience, transformation, and collapse are presented. The framework facilitates and guides analysis on whether and how transition is emergent, constrained, or accelerated in specific contexts. A case study of post-Hurricane Sandy New York is used to illustrate the framework and its overall effectiveness.

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Urban Systems during Disasters: Factors for Resilience

Cited by 64 publications

References 16 publications

Abandonment, Ecological Assembly and Public Health Risks in Counter-Urbanizing Cities

Abandonment, Ecological Assembly and Public Health Risks in Counter-Urbanizing Cities

Bronfenbrenner’s bioecological theory for modelling community resilience to natural disasters

Transitions between risk management regimes in cities

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