Towards Disaster Risk Reduction: A Policy-focused Approach to Natural Hazards and Disasters

This book constitutes a landmark attempt to address, comprehensively and in-depth, a policy-focused approach to the many timely and important issues associated with building a culture of disaster prevention and disaster risk reduction. This book not only provides key insights into the field of natural hazard and disaster studies but also assesses the causes, perspectives, and consequences of natural disasters, as well as providing a global survey of post-recovery policies. The contributions found herein discuss disaster risk reduction strategies and policies for managing the unexpected and cascading impacts of natural disasters. A particular focus is placed on transboundary catastrophes that cross policy domains, geographic, political, and sectoral boundaries. Since the disaster management and natural resources policy research field draws on a diverse range of paradigms and influences, the book includes case histories, empirical studies, conceptual-theoretical investigations, policy perspectives, institutional analysis, and risk analyses. The role of human culture, disaster psychology and environmental monitoring are examined in depth. Deficiencies and inequalities in local, national, and global disaster response are also discussed. Original strategies for reducing disaster risk are put forward and the prospects for a major change in the direction of global policy on disasters.

This book was published as a special issue of the Journal of Natural Resources Policy Research.

Jason K. Levy is Associate Professor of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness at Virginia Commonwealth University, USA. He is also Director of the National Homeland Security Project.

Chennat Gopalakrishnan is Professor at the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management, University of Hawaii at Manoa, USA.