News
Voices of Youth Mapping Risk Around the Globe
While some mapping is conducted by professionals with sophisticated technical equipment, UNICEF has instead targeted youths as experts in mapping social and environmental risks in communities around the world.[1] The goal behind this initiative is to enhance community engagement and participatory planning to more effectively reduce risk in vulnerable communities. The process starts with youth playing…
Read MoreEmploying Community Participation and Technology to Reduce Flood Risk in the Bicol River Basin
The Bicol River Basin (BRB), located in the southern portion of Luzon Island, Philippines, receives at least 2,000 mm of rainfall per year, primarily during typhoon season, and experiences regular flooding. In 2008, Christian Aid launched a pilot project, Reduction of Flood Risk in the Bicol River Basin II (BRB2), as a part of their…
Read MoreTropical Cyclone Winston One Year Later
TC Winston—the strongest in the island’s history—caused widespread devastation and resulted in the tragic loss of life. The cyclone left thousands without homes and destroyed schools, roads, and crops. In the aftermath of the disaster affected communities, government, and humanitarian organizations began working together to start the long and difficult process of recovery and reconstruction. On…
Read MoreHariyo Ban Program Phase I: Achievements and Learning
In the aftermath of the Nepal Earthquake in 2015, the USAID supported Hario Ban Program and WWF Nepal conducted extensive green recovery and reconstruction training, developed demonstration sites, and supported a rapid environmental assessment (REA) which was conducted by the Nepal government and partners. This factsheet highlights some of the program achievements and lessons identified…
Read MoreWetlands, Cities, and Floods
WWF Fellow Dr. Missaka Hettiarachchi will be presenting on the role of wetlands in urban flood management for World Wetlands Day 2017. The event is hosted by the Sri Lanka Land Reclamation and Development Corporation (SLLRDC) – a government agency responsible for flood risk and wetland management in urban areas of Sri Lanka. Participants will…
Read MoreWetlands and Flood Management
Wetlands are ecosystems, which can be found where the soil is permanently or intermittently saturated (or inundated) with water and has vegetation that tolerates high moisture levels. There are many different types of wetlands including: Marshes: Common in floodplain areas near the lower reaches of a river; characterized by low grassy vegetation and peaty…
Read MoreLSE Students Investigate Environmental Issues in Cash Transfer Programming
In the last decade an increasing number of humanitarian agencies have adopted cash transfer programming (CTP). We know little however about environmental issues related to this practice. The UNEP/OCHA Joint Environment Unit (JEU), Global Shelter Cluster (GSC) Environment Community of Practice (ECoP) and the Cash Working Group (CWG) are therefore collaborating with students at the…
Read MoreWWF Ecuador and Ceiba Support Green Recovery Efforts with GRRT Training
The April 16, 2016 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck northern Ecuador impacting the coastal provinces of Esmeraldas, Manabí, Santa Elena, Guayas, Santo Domingo and Los Ríos. The most severely impacted province was Manabí, where approximately 35% of homes were damaged or destroyed. Overall, it is estimated that 720,000 people were impacted by the earthquake and over 29,000…
Read MoreWWF Nepal Publishes Country-Specific Building Materials Guide
WWF Nepal and the Hario Ban Program recently released its Nepal specific guide on construction materials called Building Material Selection and Use: An Environmental Guide that is now available for download. WWF initially developed the guide in response to the devastating earthquakes that struck Nepal on April 25 and May 12, 2015. Housing and shelter…
Read MoreBuilding Material Selection and Use – An Environmental Guide
Housing and shelter was one sector that was acutely impacted, approximately half a million homes collapsed or were damaged beyond repair and another 256,697 were partly damaged. Sudden, large-scale increases in building material demand can cause significant social and environmental risks, for example, erosion, deforestation, landslide and floods. The guide was developed to provide information…
Read More