The Dilemmas of Risk-Sensitive Development on a Small Volcanic Island

In the Small Islands Developing State (SIDS) of St Vincent and the Grenadines in the Caribbean, the most destructive disasters in terms of human casualties have been the multiple eruptions of La Soufrière volcano situated in the north of St Vincent. Despite this major threat, people continue to live...

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Main Authors: Emily Wilkinson, Emma Lovell, Barbara Carby, Jenni Barclay, Richard E.A. Robertson
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2016-06-01
Series:Resources
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.mdpi.com/2079-9276/5/2/21
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spelling doaj-2cfe0395eda04bee8168e61af3ab84432020-11-24T23:19:37ZengMDPI AGResources2079-92762016-06-01522110.3390/resources5020021resources5020021The Dilemmas of Risk-Sensitive Development on a Small Volcanic IslandEmily Wilkinson0Emma Lovell1Barbara Carby2Jenni Barclay3Richard E.A. Robertson4Climate and Environment Programme, Overseas Development Institute, London SE1 8NJ, UKClimate and Environment Programme, Overseas Development Institute, London SE1 8NJ, UKUWI Disaster Risk Reduction, University of the West Indies, 13 Gibraltar Camp Way, Mona, Kingston 7, JamaicaSchool of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia; Norfolk NR4 7TJ, UKUWI Seismic Research Centre, University of the West Indies, St Augustine, Trinidad and TobagoIn the Small Islands Developing State (SIDS) of St Vincent and the Grenadines in the Caribbean, the most destructive disasters in terms of human casualties have been the multiple eruptions of La Soufrière volcano situated in the north of St Vincent. Despite this major threat, people continue to live close to the volcano and national development plans do not include risk reduction measures for volcanic hazards. This paper examines the development options in volcanic SIDS and presents a number of conundrums for disaster risk management on the island of St Vincent. Improvements in monitoring of volcanic hazards and ongoing programmes to enhance communications systems and encourage community preparedness planning have increased awareness of the risks associated with volcanic hazards, yet this has not translated into more risk-informed development planning decisions. The current physical development plan in fact promotes investment in infrastructure in settlements located within the zone designated very high-hazard. However, this is not an anomaly or an irrational decision: severe space constraints in SIDS, as well as other historical social and economic factors, limit growth and options for low-risk development. Greater attention needs to be placed on developing measures to reduce risk, particularly from low-intensity hazards like ash, limiting where possible exposure to volcanic hazards and building the resilience of communities living in high-risk areas. This requires planning for both short- and longer-term impacts from renewed activity. Volcanic SIDS face multiple hazards because of their geography and topography, so development plans should identify these interconnected risks and options for their reduction, alongside measures aimed at improving personal preparedness plans so communities can learn to live with risk.http://www.mdpi.com/2079-9276/5/2/21disaster risk managementvolcanoesphysical planningsmall island developing states
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Emily Wilkinson
Emma Lovell
Barbara Carby
Jenni Barclay
Richard E.A. Robertson
spellingShingle Emily Wilkinson
Emma Lovell
Barbara Carby
Jenni Barclay
Richard E.A. Robertson
The Dilemmas of Risk-Sensitive Development on a Small Volcanic Island
Resources
disaster risk management
volcanoes
physical planning
small island developing states
author_facet Emily Wilkinson
Emma Lovell
Barbara Carby
Jenni Barclay
Richard E.A. Robertson
author_sort Emily Wilkinson
title The Dilemmas of Risk-Sensitive Development on a Small Volcanic Island
title_short The Dilemmas of Risk-Sensitive Development on a Small Volcanic Island
title_full The Dilemmas of Risk-Sensitive Development on a Small Volcanic Island
title_fullStr The Dilemmas of Risk-Sensitive Development on a Small Volcanic Island
title_full_unstemmed The Dilemmas of Risk-Sensitive Development on a Small Volcanic Island
title_sort dilemmas of risk-sensitive development on a small volcanic island
publisher MDPI AG
series Resources
issn 2079-9276
publishDate 2016-06-01
description In the Small Islands Developing State (SIDS) of St Vincent and the Grenadines in the Caribbean, the most destructive disasters in terms of human casualties have been the multiple eruptions of La Soufrière volcano situated in the north of St Vincent. Despite this major threat, people continue to live close to the volcano and national development plans do not include risk reduction measures for volcanic hazards. This paper examines the development options in volcanic SIDS and presents a number of conundrums for disaster risk management on the island of St Vincent. Improvements in monitoring of volcanic hazards and ongoing programmes to enhance communications systems and encourage community preparedness planning have increased awareness of the risks associated with volcanic hazards, yet this has not translated into more risk-informed development planning decisions. The current physical development plan in fact promotes investment in infrastructure in settlements located within the zone designated very high-hazard. However, this is not an anomaly or an irrational decision: severe space constraints in SIDS, as well as other historical social and economic factors, limit growth and options for low-risk development. Greater attention needs to be placed on developing measures to reduce risk, particularly from low-intensity hazards like ash, limiting where possible exposure to volcanic hazards and building the resilience of communities living in high-risk areas. This requires planning for both short- and longer-term impacts from renewed activity. Volcanic SIDS face multiple hazards because of their geography and topography, so development plans should identify these interconnected risks and options for their reduction, alongside measures aimed at improving personal preparedness plans so communities can learn to live with risk.
topic disaster risk management
volcanoes
physical planning
small island developing states
url http://www.mdpi.com/2079-9276/5/2/21
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