SCIENTIFIC PROGRAM

VII. Volcanoes and human societies  

VII.1 Managing Volcanic Risk in Developing Countries: Benefits from Community Based Risk Strategies

Conveners:
Erouscilla Joseph, The UWI Seismic Research Centre, St. Augustine, Trinidad; pjoseph@uwiseismic.com
Paul Taylor, Disaster Reduction Programme, Geoscience Division, Pacific Community, Suva, FIJI; pault@spc.int
Michael Petterson, Geoscience Division, Pacific Community, Suva, FIJI; michaelp@spc.int
Stacey Edwards, The UWI Seismic Research Centre, St. Augustine, Trinidad; staceyedwards@uwiseismic.com
Patricia Mothes, Instituto Geofísico, Escuela Politécnica Nacional, Ecuador; pmothes@igepn.edu.ec

Many active volcanic zones are located within developing countries and recent periods of intense activity has had marked effects on national infrastructure and the local communities. How then, can the communities best position themselves to cope with future volcanic disasters, and increase their resilience? Whilst national strategies are important, community based disaster risk reduction (CBDRR) leads to a locally 'owned' and appropriate strategy for disaster preparedness and risk reduction. Citizen science is a CBDRR approach which involves volunteers in progressing scientific investigations. Involving citizens at risk in monitoring or research activities has the potential to not only generate an understanding of scientific knowledge, but also to develop resilience within affected communities. In volcanic environments, scientific researchers use a diverse number of methods to study active volcanoes and a growing number of examples involve local stakeholders and the public collecting data, sampling volcanic products and reporting observations.

We invite contributions that outline what work has been done, or is being undertaken in developing countries using a CBDRR approach. Submissions from the SW Pacific South, Central America and the Caribbean are particularly encouraged. Papers would include studies of individual volcanic systems and their activity, the status of the risk strategies within developing regions and volcanic hazard risk solutions that could be used to reduce the risk to communities. Illustrations of how local people are employing the data, applying it for education, personal safety issues, community land-use and growth management issues, embracing it within their communities, and the lessons learnt from these experiences are all strongly encouraged. Contributions from those that use it as a tool for promoting volcanic hazard education, enhancing communication between geoscientists, or that aim to empower citizens at risk to act to reduce their own risk are also welcome.