Experts attending the international workshop on the role of World Natural Heritage Sites (WHS) in disaster risk reduction (DRR) at the UNESCO Category 2 Centre on World Natural Heritage Management and Training for Asia and the Pacific Region, Wildlife Institute of India, have stressed on the need for ensuring that natural systems are not disturbed by human activity. Disturbing or damaging natural systems will exacerbate the impact of disasters in the future.
On the conclusion of the second day of the workshop, C2C scientist Dr Sonali Ghosh spoke of the various issues that had been raised in the workshop so far. She pointed out that focus had been elicited on the need for understanding disaster risk, strengthening disaster risk governance to manage disaster risk, investing in disaster risk reduction for resilience, enhancing disaster preparedness for effective response and to “Build Back Better” in recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction.
Identification of risks, protection from different hazards including climate change and the preservation of heritage sites was also discussed in the workshop.
The workshop had brainstorming sessions and exclusive training for national and international site managers from the Asia- Pacific Region. Special lectures were delivered on linking DRR to climate change, remote sensing GIS for hazards, armed conflict and world heritage among other issues.