News
Source(s):
World Animal Protection/Protección Animal Mundial - Latin America
The project began with a detailed profile of Turrialba's assets, strengths and vulnerabilities. We created risk map of the dairy industry the community depends on, and also elaborated on its own risk reduction plan. We pulled together survival plans for small eruptions, as well as plans for a catastrophic eruption where immediate evacuation is the only option.
The livestock risk management model, with emphasis on community education, was developed from a pedagogical perspective of community education. It aimed to integrate domestic animals into the prevention and/or evacuation plans, to protect the livelihoods of people who depend on them.
The model uses the methodology of social constructivism and looks for a language and communication methods most appropriate to stakeholders and users (dairy farmers, etc.), and practical learning models and simulations in the field. The strategy aims to identify a community with the process, and strengthen its self-confidence, organization, creativity and dialogue.
Finally, it seeks to develop the ability to create its own model of livestock risk management based on community strengths. The community would need to diagnose its situation: characteristics of animals, production, specific value for the community, threats, vulnerabilities, historical record of emergencies, basic infrastructure, strengths, livestock inventories. It would also need to create a risk map and risk reduction plan, including: needs, roles and functions, cost / benefit analysis, actions, simulations/drills, prioritization and scheduling.
Fortunately, no animal losses were reported, since the producers of dairy cattle evacuated on time and took the necessary prevention measures to protect their assets.
We took the following steps to create awareness and emergency plans for the Turrialba case:
This whole community participated in this long-term process. It included the development of a risk reduction plan for herds, the people involved in that activity and their means of primary subsistence, knowledge-creation tools, animal management patterns and action models that will generate a change in the public’s perception of that risk, to finally prepare the producers and community through a response drill for an eruption of ash and gases.
It also included a community education component, which involved everyone in the area. The model and the capacities of the community were tested during a volcanic eruption in 2015. This eruption was the worst during 14 years of continued eruptive activity.
Fortunately, no animal losses were reported, since the producers of dairy cattle evacuated on time and took necessary prevention measures to protect their assets. We took an advisor role during this emergency, and assisted SENASA (Animal Health Services) and Red Cross with their relief efforts.
Coordination roles for the National Emergency Commission (CNE) and SENASA should've been better defined, to ensure as little confusion as possible.
Communities' processes did not consider experience from previous emergencies. Training should be renewed and repeated where needed, so knowledge is kept up to date.
The most important aspect of a volcanic threat contingency plan is to monitor communities at risk, and ensure they're participating in post-disaster recovery.
Early evacuation of people, their animals and their production assets requires a joint strategy. Recovery programmes should enable producers to adapt and recover effectively.
The model of the cattle loading platform is available to be replicated.
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