Environmental Degradation Increases the Risk of Disasters Worldwide

The report's WorldRiskIndex, developed by UNU-EHS in cooperation with the Alliance, determines the risk of becoming the victim of a disaster as a result of natural hazards for 173 countries. The Pacific Island states of Vanuatu and Tonga have the highest disaster risk. Malta and Qatar face the lowest risk. India ranks 73rd and is therefore midway in all risk categories.

The report's WorldRiskIndex, developed by UNU-EHS in cooperation with the Alliance, determines the risk of becoming the victim of a disaster as a result of natural hazards for 173 countries. The Pacific Island states of Vanuatu and Tonga have the highest disaster risk. Malta and Qatar face the lowest risk. India ranks 73rd and is therefore midway in all risk categories.

"This report illustrates the powerful role that nature can play in reducing risks to people and property from coastal hazards like storms, erosion and floods. Coral reefs, oyster reefs and mangroves offer flexible, cost-effective, and sustainable first lines of defense" said Dr. Michael Beck, Lead Marine Scientist at The Nature Conservancy.

The Conservancy's Drs. Beck and Christine Shepard, co-authors of the WRR, found that there are 200 million people who may receive risk reduction from coral reefs alone – which can reduce wave energy by more than 85 percent.

India ranks 2nd in the countries with the greatest number of at-risk people who may receive risk reduction benefits from reefs (people living below 10m elevation and within 50km of coral reefs). The top countries are Indonesia and India (> 35 M people each); followed by the Philippines (>20M); China (> 15 M); Brazil, Vietnam and the USA (all > 7M).   

The report comes just before the UN's International Day for Disaster Reduction, October 13.

The Nature Conservancy is a leading conservation organization working around the world to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people. Visit The Nature Conservancy on the Web at http://www.nature.org/.