ABSTRACT
There are many reasons why an environment may be sensitive or difficult to manage: harsh climate; remoteness; the impact of natural disasters; as a consequence of easily damaged vegetation or soil; because of insularity; as a result of excessive human demands. Excessive demands may be made in rich and poor countries, causing environmental degradation sometimes at low human population densities (as in parts of Australia, Amazonia, or Siberia). Certain parts of the world are more likely to suffer natural disasters: seismically and volcanically active areas, those subject to hurricane or tornado, tsunami, avalanche, landslide, sudden frost, etc. These risks can be mapped by hazard and risk assessment, for insurance companies, civil defence, etc. It is also possible to map things that are vulnerable to disruption, by say frost or pollution or erosion. Hazardous sites, like chemical plants, and potential military targets can also be mapped. Various assessments and maps can be overlaid or combined in a GIS-type system to assess combined risks. Unfortunately, there may be no efforts to make such assessments.
