|
" An integrated framework for natural hazard mitigation and development planning in the eastern Caribbean "
Jessamy, Valma R.
| Document Type
|
:
|
Latin Dissertation
|
| Record Number
|
:
|
1095525
|
| Doc. No
|
:
|
TLets399840
|
| Main Entry
|
:
|
Jessamy, Valma R.
|
| Title & Author
|
:
|
An integrated framework for natural hazard mitigation and development planning in the eastern Caribbean\ Jessamy, Valma R.
|
| College
|
:
|
University of East Anglia
|
| Date
|
:
|
2003
|
| student score
|
:
|
2003
|
| Degree
|
:
|
Ph.D.
|
| Abstract
|
:
|
This thesis examines the political, institutional, and social dimensions of disastermanagement in Caribbean States to address the persistent problem of a divergencebetween disaster management, environmental management and socio-economicdevelopment. It is well understood that disasters occur due to the interactionsbetween human and physical factors and that measures to reduce disasters must alsotarget social and environmental problems. Building on sustainability principles, abroader view of disasters is adopted in this thesis to include a global systems approachthat links the interactions of earth and human-use social systems. Current naturaldisaster research is divided along disciplinary boundaries, and there are few studiesthat have adopted a systems approach to explore these interactions.An interdisciplinary systems-integration model and methodology emerged from theresearch and was made operational to identify the enabling mechanisms andprocedures, constraints and limitations to achieving integration of response strategies.At the core of this research is a framework that conceptualises the linkages andinteractions between physical and human systems in creating vulnerability and naturaldisasters. The framework also integrates macro, meso and micro scales to understandthe socio-economic context of natural disasters and development in Caribbean States.Ethnographic research techniques were utilized to analyse a combination of evidencefrom field surveys, documents, interviews, questionnaire surveys and meetings. Fromthe analysis of revealed and expressed preferences, the thesis concludes that thehazard and risk perception of decision makers and cultural values held on theenvironment are largely responsible for the conundrum. The findings of the studyalso point to: lack of policy coordination between key sectors, failure to address thehistorical causes of vulnerability, and failure to include social capital in thedevelopment planning process.In summary the systems-integration model makes an important contribution bycombining perspectives from natural and social sciences to study the co-evolutionaryand dynamic interactions of physical and human systems. The consideration of scale,context and interactivity led to understandings on the factors that enable and constrainresponse to hazards in the environment, and pathways to bridging the divide.Advances were also made by providing lessons that can be applied to studies onplanning for adaptation to long-tean environmental variability such as climatechange.
|
| Added Entry
|
:
|
University of East Anglia
|
| |