Outcome document the DRR session during the 2018 Huangshan Dialogue

At the 3rd Huangshan Dialogue on UNESCO Sites and Sustainable Development, UNESCO HIST and IRDR co-organised the session Disaster Risk Assessment and Mitigation for UNESCO Sites.

The session was chaired by Dr. Hans Thulstrup, the Senior Programme Specialist of Water and Environment Sciences of UNESCO Regional Science Bureau for Asia and the Pacific. The session had five presentations containing the DRR strategies, activities and studies from UNESCO and other institutes/organisations. Dr. Noeline Raondry Rakotoarisoa from UNESCO MAB Secretariat Paris introduced the Relevance of DRR-Related Activities in Biosphere Reserves. Dr Irina Pavlova from the UNESCO DRR team informed the participants about the Overview of Disaster Risk Reduction Activities at Natural UNESCO Designated Sites. Dr. LEI Yu from IMHE CAS illustrated the Treatment of Natural Hazards at UNESCO World Heritage Sites, especially their work at Jiuzhaigou. Dr. CHEN Fu from RADI CAS presented the Remote Sensing Monitoring of Natural Disasters and showed its advantages towards DRR for UNESCO Sites. Mr. Surya Bhakta Sangachhe from the National Society for Earthquake Technology – Nepal (NSET) introduced the Disaster Risk Assessment and Mitigation for WHS and Heritage Settlements in Nepal.

The panel discussion was substaintial and effective. An outcome document was drafted after the session and is now officially finalized. In the outcome document, UNESCO and IRDR propose several recommended actions, including establishing an international task group on DRR for Internationally Designated Areas (IDAs) and promoting DRR for IDAs to the 2019 Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction. IRDR will continue its attention and contributions to DRR for UNESCO sites.