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Displaying 120 of about 769 resultsPermafrost is defined as the ground that remains frozen under 0°C for a minimum of two consecutive years. Permafrost loss, also known as permafrost thaw is the progressive loss of ground ice in permafrost, usually due to input of heat. Thaw can occur over decades to centuries over the entire depth of permafrost ground, with impacts occurring while thaw…
Compressible soils include both compressive and collapsible soils. Compressive soils are soils that are prone to volumetric change when subject to mechanical loading (USDA, 1990:30). Collapsible soils are metastable in that they are prone to volumetric change (collapse) on wetting and loading (Rogers, 1995).
Corals are subject to ‘bleaching’ when the seawater temperature is too high: they lose the symbiotic algae that give coral its colour and part of its nutrients. Severe, prolonged or repeated bleaching can lead to the death of coral colonies (United Nations, 2017).
Mangroves and the destruction of mangrove habitat is caused by both human and natural causes. Human activities in the form of farming, aquaculture, urban development and natural stressors such as erosion and extreme weather have driven mangrove habitat loss. The hazard of loss of mangroves and their ecosystem services has devastating socioeconomic and e…
Desertification refers to land degradation in arid, semi-arid and dry subhumid areas resulting from various factors, including climatic variations and human activities (UNCCD, 2017).
Forest disturbance is the damage caused by any factor (biotic or abiotic) that adversely affects the vigour and productivity of the forest and which is not a direct result of human activities. It includes disturbance by insect pests, diseases, severe weather events and fires (FAO, 2018, 2020).
Saline soils are those which have an electrical conductivity of the saturation soil extract of more than 4 dS/m at 25°C (Richards, 1954). This value is generally used worldwide although the terminology committee of the Soil Science Society of America has lowered the boundary between saline and non-saline soils to 2 dS/m in the saturation extract (FAO, 1…
Substandard and falsified medical products are defined as those that may cause harm to patients and fail to treat the diseases for which they were intended (WHO, 2018).
Fungicides are chemicals that kill or slow the growth of fungi and their spores. They can be used on plants or other surfaces where mould or mildew grow (CDC, 2019).
Mercury is a naturally occurring element that is found in air, water and soil. Exposure to mercury – even small amounts – may cause serious health problems and is a threat to the development of the foetus in utero and for children early in life (WHO, 2017).
Shrimp acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (AHPND) is caused by virulent strains of Vibrio parahaemolyticus and related Vibrio species. AHPND-associated mortalities occur early in the production cycle, usually within 30 to 35 days of stocking, and because of this AHPND was initially referred to as early mortality syndrome (OIE, 2019).
This report takes stock of the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 in Pacific Island countries at its midpoint and identifies key areas to focus on to advance the achievement of the Framework’s goal and targets by 2023. Progress has been made at the regional level towards more integrated climate adaptation a…
This report aims to capture pathways for community resilience that integrate gender equality and social inclusion in disaster risk reduction (DRR) and provides examples of good practice in Pacific Island countries. It also identifies gaps and areas where progress is most needed.Women have been contributing towards stronger, more resilient communities. B…
Abu Dhabi, 3 August 2023, Advances in early warning systems and preparedness have proven to be lifesaving and cost-effective, protecting tens of thousands of lives and billions of dollars in assets. By focusing on people-centered, end-to-end, multi-hazard early warning systems, we can mitigate the impact of disasters by triggering timely and well-prepar…
The eighth session of the Regional Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction in the Americas and the Caribbean (RP23) was held in Punta del Este, Uruguay, from Tuesday 28 February to Thursday 2 March 2023.It was organised by the Government of Uruguay through its National Emergency System, with the support of the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduct…