ABSTRACT
Disasters can be prevented or at least mitigated through effective disaster risk reduction strategies that include the use of ecosystems as a key tool to reduce the damage caused by natural hazards. Nature-based solutions that strategically conserve or restore nature can reduce disaster risk and create more resilient communities. In disaster risk reduction, nature-based solutions can be applied as ecosystem-based disaster risk reduction strategies, which is the sustainable management, conservation, and restoration of ecosystems to provide services that reduce disaster risk by mitigating hazards and by increasing livelihood resilience. Ecosystem-based disaster risk reduction strategies provide additional environmental, economic, and social benefits beyond disaster risk reduction. They are commonly referred to as low-regrets or no-regrets options as they can generate benefits regardless of uncertainties in climate projections. Ecosystem-based disaster risk reduction strategies include widening of floodplains, protecting and expanding wetlands, are restoring coral reefs. Ecosystem-based disaster risk reduction can mitigate droughts through the release of water during the drought from natural storage features. Finally, properly managed ecosystems have physical abilities to protect people from a variety of hazards including tsunamis.
