Wetlands International South Asia collaborated with the Ramsar Regional Center – East Asia (RRC-EA) to conduct a training session on Wetlands and Disaster Risk Reduction at the 13th Regional Training Workshop for Wetland Managers in sub-regions of Asia-Oceania during 17-21 October 2022 in Suncheon City, Republic of Korea. The session was attended by 22 participants from 10 countries representing East, Southeast and South Asia sub-regions.
Mr Dhruv Verma, Senior Technical Officer at Wetlands International South Asia provided the training on Ecosystem-based Disaster Risk Reduction, DRR in Wetlands Management Planning, Landscape Approach and Risk Mapping. The session was followed by an exercise on Risk Assessment of Suncheon Bay Wetland, a Ramsar Site where participants identified hazards and exposed areas, and assessed vulnerability of the wetland features to ascertain disaster risks to the wetland which needs management interventions.
The session was held in context to the Ramsar Convention adopted Resolution XII.13: Wetlands and Disaster Risk Reduction that AFFIRMS the need to develop and implement management plans for wetlands or adapt them in instruments designed for the management of existing natural resources, especially Ramsar Sites, that integrate the principles of ecosystem-based management and adaptation against natural hazards such as dust and sand storms, floods, droughts, fires, landslides, coastal erosion, tsunamis, hurricanes, storms, and storm surges, and also against accelerated sea level rise, and STRONGLY ENCOURAGES the mainstreaming of disaster risk reduction measures in these management plans and into all relevant policies, action plans and programmes.
