Coastal Vulnerability / Vulnérabilité des communautés côtières
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Item Multi-actor flood governance in Cape Town's informal settlements unpacking the barriers to collaborative governance(ICLEI, 2014) Waddell, J.; Ziervogel, G.This conference paper suggests that unclear roles and responsibilities, lack of monitoring mechanisms, unclear definitions of flooding, and lack of human resources are significant barriers to collaborative flood governance in Cape Town. It draws on qualitative data collected in Cape Town as part of a broader research project to understand how floods are managed in the city’s high flood-risk informal settlements. Although cooperation to prevent disaster is the ideal– in practice it is difficult to achieve between multiple actors with diverse interests and capacities. This research formed part of the broader Flooding in Cape Town under Climate Risk (FliCCR) project.Item Mapping and measuring social vulnerabilities of coastal areas of Bangkok and periphery(ICLEI, 2014) Marome, W.A.Disaster risk management has begun to prioritize interaction between social systems and infrastructure. This approach acknowledges societal and environmental practices that can influence the resilience of communities. The importance of social capital and its link with vulnerability at the most local level is addressed in this paper. Social vulnerabilities are discussed in terms of risk variables related to floods, and socioeconomic change as a result of urbanization. Social capital is treated as a measure of reduction of precondition to risk. By considering societal structures (i.e. community cooperation or its lack) as factors of vulnerability, resilience and sustainability can be promoted.Item Assessing resilience of the Nile Delta urban centers to sea level rise impacts(ICLEI, 2014) Abdrabo, Mohamed; Hassaan, M.This paper assesses the resilience of cities in the Nile Delta coastal area with regard to sea level rise, focusing on inundation. By integrating multiple physical and socioeconomic factors that determine urban resilience, this index highlights variations in resilience between urban centers. Levels of resilience are related to levels of physical vulnerability and varied socioeconomic conditions: cities are not single entities, they form a “system of cities.” A resilient system has key assets distributed so they are not all affected by an event at any one time (locational diversity), and have different ways to meet given needs (functional diversity).Item Climate adaptation and resilience in coastal zones : a review of coastal research; synthesis document(Overseas Development Institute, London, GB, 2014) Jobbins, Guy; Doczi, Julian; Wilkinson, EmilyThe 13 projects reviewed in this document worked at a variety of scales; some focus on single communities, and 7 work at the scale of cities or subnational regions such as the Nile Delta. Projects working at large scale are particularly noteworthy because of the landscape dimensions frequently involved in coastal adaptation issues such as flood and sea level rise protection. This report presents a summary of the evaluation report, focused on two thematic clusters: the first relates research findings on disaster risk reduction and socioecological resilience; the second focuses on findings from research on adaptation to slow-onset climate change.Item Drawing a line in the sand : managing coastal flooding risks in the city of Cape Town(2013) Colenbrander, D.; Cartwright, A.; Taylor, A.Cape Town is internationally renowned for its beaches and coastal beauty. In an effort to reduce storm surge and sea-level damage due to climate change, coastal municipalities in South Africa have begun to implement set-back policies in line with the country’s Integrated Coastal Management Act. What was not anticipated were the divergent policy interpretations and resistances encountered from within public sector directorates with the same broad mandate. The paper suggests that the influence of different mentalities, technologies, resources and institutional frameworks are the norm when dealing with adaptation to climate change. Recognizing and managing these differences is critical.Item Data collection challenges and identifying climate change drivers : background paper(2014) Abdrabo, Mohamed; Almansi, Florencia; Almeida, Oriana; Bidegain, Mario; Caffera, MarioOne of the most common problems described in all the workshop presentations was drawn out bureaucratic processes required for accessing reliable scientific data. Data collection challenges are more demanding in developing countries given the lack of indicators or data in many fields, alongside lack of access to information and an absence of transparency with available data. Insufficient knowledge of complex biophysical data (within usable time frames for analysis) is also a major challenge. This report synthesizes several projects from hotspots in the developing world with a multi-method approach across project sites, developed in partnership with local organizations and stakeholders.Item Methodological strengths and weaknesses of climate change modeling and downscaling : background research paper(2014) Abdrabo, Mohamed; Almansi, Florencia; Almeida, Oriana; Bidegain, Mario; Caffera, Mario“Downscaling” is a method of generating data from global models that can be locally relevant, and is useful for analyzing potential impacts and conducting vulnerability studies. As coastal zones are particularly susceptible to climate change impacts, this background paper analyzes some of the strengths and challenges of downscaling General Circulation Models (GCM) that were experienced by Climate Change and Water (CCW) project partners conducting adaptation research in coastal areas. Downscaled and modeled information must focus on end-user needs, particularly in developing countries, including a clear understanding of available data limits, and acknowledgement of uncertainty and probability.Item Understanding vulnerability in coastal and estuary areas : background research paper(2014) Abdrabo, Mohamed; Almansi, Florencia; Almeida, Oriana; Bidegain, Mario; Caffera, MarioThis background paper explores vulnerability in coastal areas or estuaries, with a focus on enhancing adaptive capacity. “Vulnerability” may refer to the vulnerable system itself, or to the impact on a given system, such as flooding in low-lying coastal cities. The projects in this report identified socio-ecological variables in order to improve understanding of vulnerabilities in coastal zone areas, with vulnerability seen as not strictly related to climate, but bound up with socio-economic and developmental processes. The research projects provide insights into a set of inter-relationships involving actors and processes, at a wide range of scales and locales.Item Adaptation aux changements climatiques dans les zones côtières et estuariennes : rapport de synthèse de la rencontre des partenaires soutenus par le CRDI qui mènent des recherches sur l'adaptation aux changements climatiques dans les zones côtières et estuariennes(2013) Zeidemann, Vivian; Rivero, Sergio; Almeida, OrianaLes zones côtières et estuariennes sont parmi les systèmes les plus productifs de la planète (Adargy et coll., 2005). Elles fournissent des services écosystémiques importants : elles représentent, à l’échelle mondiale, 25 % de la productivité primaire, de 90 à 95 % des pêches et 80 % de la production de carbonate (Tolba et coll., 1992). Qui plus est, les zones côtières ont une densité de population trois fois plus élevée que les terres intérieures; elles abritent plus d’un milliard de personnes dont plus de 71 % vivent dans un rayon de 50 km d’un estuaire (Adargy et coll., 2005). Les changements climatiques ajoutent une pression croissante sur ces régions que l’activité humaine met déjà sérieusement à mal...Item Adaptation to climate change in coastal areas and estuaries : synthesis report from the meeting of IDRC-funded partners working on climate change adaptation research in coastal areas and estuarine systems(2013) Zeidemann, Vivian; Rivero, Sergio; Almeida, OrianaCoastal areas and estuaries are among the most productive systems on the earth (Adargy et al., 2005). They are responsible for providing important ecosystems services such as 25% of global primary productivity, 90-95% of global fishing production, and 80% of the world’s carbonate production (Tolba et al., 1992). Furthermore, coastal areas have a density population nearly three times higher than inland areas, housing a population of more than a billion people, with more than 71% of this population living within 50 km of an estuary (Adargy et al., 2005). Climate change is adding increasing pressure on those areas that are already seriously threatened by human activity...Item Socio-ecological resilience in the context of sea level rise(2014) Pinedo-Vasquez, Miguel; Vogt, NathanThe presentation addresses ways to build adaptive capacities of indigenous communities in the Amazon Estuary, a region governed by tidal floods. It reviews available data that shows fluctuations in land use and sources of income from the 1950’s to 2008, as well as contexts of rural/urban population changes. Advancing the notion of socio-ecological resilience, it advocates for local peoples’ capacity to adapt by maintaining the structural and functional features of social and natural landscapes over time.Item Hydro-meteorological trends in Southwest Coastal Bangladesh : perspectives of climate change and human interventions(Scientific Research Publishing, 2013-03) Mondal, M. Shahjahan; Jalal, Mohammad Rashed; Khan, M. Shah Alam; Kumar, Uthpal; Rahman, Rezaur; Huq, HamidulCyclone, storm surge induced flooding, riverine coastal flooding, salinity intrusion and coastal erosion are the main climate and hydrologic hazards in the area. This study investigates long-term trends in temperature, rainfall, sunshine, humidity and tidal water level in the Khulna region. Results reveal that the temperature is increasing at a significant rate, particularly in recent years. The sunshine duration is decreasing while humidity is increasing. Rainfall is increasing in terms of magnitude and number of rainy days. Human interventions through upstream diversion and coastal polders have contributed more in hydro-morphological changes in the southwest than climate change.Item Rising waters : working together to solve Cape Town's flooding(African Centre for Cities, University of Cape Town, 2013) Joubert, Leonie; Martindale, LindaThis book explores the challenges and opportunities of collaborative governance as a way to get a broader group of stakeholders involved in flooding responses, as part of our ongoing research through the Flooding in Cape Town under Climate Risk (FliCCR) project.Item Report on flooding in the informal settlement, ‘Egoli’, in Philippi / Schaapkraal, Cape Town, 2010 and 2011(University of Cape Town, Cape Town, ZA, 2011) Drivdal, LauraThe report provides data and a descriptive understanding of flooding in one particular settlement that is affected: Egoli, in the Philippi Horticultural Area, Cape Town. Through photos that illuminate the conditions, along with a survey of inhabitants, the effects of yearly flooding are documented. Egoli was initially formed by 64 families evicted from one of the largest farms in the area in 1995. There are currently 708 residents. Collaborative interaction with the municipal government is not a simple issue, particularly since the settlement is on private land and subject to an eviction court case.Item Report on flooding in the informal settlement, ‘The Graveyard Pond’, Philippi, Cape Town, 2010 - 2011(University of Cape Town, Cape Town, ZA, 2011) Drivdal, LauraThe paper illustrates the effects of flooding with photos and excerpts from community participant interviews. The research aim is to provide data and a descriptive understanding of the flooding in one particular settlement that is badly affected: Graveyard Pond in the industrial area of Philippi, Cape Town. Graveyard Pond is one of the approximately 350 informal settlements in Cape Town. When it rains, in addition to water rising from below, the drains that are in the middle of the settlement overflow and seriously flood the area.Item Participatory approach to data collection for GIS for flood risk management in informal settlements of Cape Town(Geomatics Division, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, ZA, 2011) Musungu, Kevin; Motala, Siddique; Smit, JulianInadequate flow of information between stakeholders can hamper development of sustainable flood risk management strategies. Using the case study of a flood prone informal settlement in Cape Town, this paper demonstrates a methodology for the collection and integration of community-based information into a Geographic Information System (GIS) that is useable by the Cape Town City Council (CTCC) for risk assessment. The study contributes to the body of Participatory GIS (PGIS) research. It demonstrates a practical approach to data collection towards development of sustainable flood risk management strategies in informal settlements.Item Reducing the pathology of risk : developing an integrated municipal coastal protection zone for the city of Cape Town(2011) Sutherland, Catherine; Oelofse, Gregg; Gold, Howard; Tsotsobe, SakhileThe coast as a dynamic space is often underestimated. In a few illustrative photographs and with very few words, this bulletin depicts graphically some long-lasting negative effects of inappropriate planning decisions in coastal areas. The unanticipated extent of erosion caused by the migrating Eerste River mouth (Cape Town) has led to the collapse of critical city infrastructure (such as the sewer pump station at the Macassar Resort, False Bay). Risk is essentially transferred from one space to another, as opposed to being reduced.