IUCN, the International Union for Conservation of Nature

Climate change and disaster events are creating greater population vulnerability, especially among women and children. This is due to slow creeping environmental degradation, populations living in more exposed areas, more frequent extreme weather events and to the social and governance factors that affect livelihood security. Disasters are mainly social constructs: they are largely determined by how a society manages its natural resources, how prepared it is to face adversity and what resources are available for recovery. These resources can be either material, such as emergency stocks, diversified livelihoods, access to natural resources or in the form of social networks and knowledge. Such factors determine a society’s resilience to stress.

• Why Do Ecosystems Matter?
• The Challenge?
• Our Response?

For more information on related publications and websites

• IUCN Environmental Guidance Note for Disaster Risk Reduction 
• Partnership on Environment and Disaster Risk Reduction (PEDRR)
• Earthquake response - Pakistan
• IUCN Disaster Risk Management Field Manual Vol. 1 
• IUCN Disaster Risk Management Field Manual Vol. 2
• IUCN Disaster Risk Management Training Module
• 3IC "Vulnerability and Resilience: Learning Lessons and Integrating Ecosystems into Assessment and Response"