Slowing the Flow: A Natural Solution to Flooding Problems

Flooding is one of the most challenging and costly realities of life in the 21st century.The natural behavior of rivers is becoming an increasingly unnatural force in villages, towns and cities across Europe and wider. As climate change combines with human pressures on the land, floods occur more often and leave greater damage when they…

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Flood Planner: A Manual for the Natural Management of River Floods

Flood Planner describes the natural component of sustainable flood management: natural flood management (NFM). This unique and practical resource for flood risk managers outlines the background to natural flood management and helps them perform their role in meeting current and future legislation. It provides evidence of the effect of NFM on runoff rates and storage…

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Timber Procurement Guidance Note for Ecuador – May 2016

According to the Ecuador Flash Appeal – Earthquake of 16 April 2016, 35% of the housing stock in the affected area has experienced severe damage or destruction, with some communities suffering up to 80% losses. While this damage may have been done primarily to cement brick and concrete buildings, timber is needed for transitional shelter…

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Opportunities for climate-compatible coastal tourism: Lessons from Belize

Climate change is affecting coastal ecosystems globally, with severe implications for developing countries that are heavily reliant on their natural resources for economic growth. In Belize, coral reefs, mangroves and beaches are the cornerstone of the tourism industry, while coastal communities rely on mangrove- and reef-based fisheries for food and income. The growth of the…

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Further Integrating the Environment and Humanitarian Action

Inspired by the Environment in Emergencies Forum 2015 in Oslo a discussion has emerged on how to better embed the environment into humanitarian action. While policy and logic demand this, practice has been slow in evolving, to the detriment of disaster survivors. A 2014 report produced by UNEP/OCHA clearly and explicitly discusses the impact of…

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