The world is currently experiencing changes in climate and environment that often lead to natural disasters. Nearly three million people worldwide may have been killed in the past 20 years by natural disasters. In total, 90% of the natural disasters and 95% of all disaster-related deaths occur in the developing countries. Recently such problems have accelerated due to LULC change, biodiversity degradation, increased tourism, urbanization and climate change. This book, consisting of 27 chapters, explores the topics of climate, environment and natural disasters in developing countries. It is essential to discuss these diverse issues in the field of geography as it encompasses interdisciplinary topics. The range of issues on national, regional and local dimensions is not only confined to geography but also concerned to other disciplines as well. Therefore, this book is a valuable source for scientists and researchers in allied fields such as climatology, disaster management, environmental science, hydrology, agriculture, and land use studies, among other areas. Furthermore, this book can be of immense help to the planners and decision-makers engaged in dealing with the problems of climate, environmental change and natural disasters in developing countries.
Prof. Narayan Chandra Jana is an applied geographer with Post-Graduate and Doctoral degrees in geography, Post-Graduate degree in disaster mitigation, Post-Graduate Diploma in sustainable rural development and Diploma in tourism studies. He has published more than100 research papers in national and international journals and edited volumes and has authored three books and jointly edited five books. He has supervised 10 Ph.D. and 10 M. Phil students. He is a member of the editorial board of the Indian Journal of Landscape Systems and Ecological Studies and is a member of the advisory board of the journal Earth Surface Review. His research interests include applied geomorphology, hazards and disasters, environmental issues, land use and rural development. Prof. Jana recently has been nominated as a Steering Committee Member in the International Geographical Union (IGU) Commission on Research Methods in Geography. Currently Dr. Jana is Professor (and former head) in the Department ofGeography and Coordinator for M. Sc. Course in Geospatial Science, The University of Burdwan, West Bengal, India.
Prof. R. B. Singh was Professor & Head of the Department of Geography at the Delhi School of Economics, University of Delhi, Delhi, until February 2020. He is the first Indian and the second Asian elected as Secretary General & Treasurer of the International Geographical Union (IGU). At present, he is Chair of the Research Council for Scientific and Industrial Research ― Central Food Technological Research Institute (CSIR-CFTRI), Government of India; a member of the International Science Council (ISC) Scientific Committee, elected as the President of the Earth System Science Section of the ISCA in 2019–2020. He has published 15 books, 35 edited volumes and more than 235 research papers. He has supervised 35 Ph.D. and 81 M. Phil students. He was awarded a fellowship by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) and has visited more than40 countries. The National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog, Government of India, invited him to be a member of the committee for preparing Vision India–2035.
