The destruction of protective reefs, mangroves, wetlands and forested slopes has seen Indonesia drop five spots to 33rd place out of 173 countries on the World Risk Index for vulnerability to disasters.
The report, released in Brussels on Thursday by the German Alliance for Development Works, the United Nations University’s Institute for Environment and Human Security and The Nature Conservancy, examines the risks of and solutions for natural disasters and determines the risk of becoming the victim of a disaster as a result of natural hazards.
“The new World Risk Report gives us a vivid picture of how environmental destruction on a global scale is increasingly becoming a direct threat to human beings as well,” said Alliance director Peter Mucke.
He added that where slopes had been deforested, where protective reefs, mangroves and wetlands had degenerated or even completely disappeared, the forces of nature hit with far more intense force on inhabited areas.
The top 15 most at-risk nations are all tropical and coastal where coastal habitats like reefs and mangroves are incredibly important for people’s livelihoods. Reefs, for example, can reduce wave energy approaching coasts by more than 85 percent.
Abdul Halim, TNC Indonesia’s marine program director, said that Southeast Asia, and in particular Indonesia, had by far the greatest number of people in low elevation areas and its reefs were the most threatened.
“We must strive to inspire government and local stakeholders for higher engagement in marine conservation and sustainable use of resources,” he said.
The countries with the greatest number of at-risk people who may receive risk reduction benefits from reefs (people living at elevations below 10 meters and within 50 kilometers of coral reefs) are Indonesia and India, with more than 35 million people in danger in both nations.
Next is the Philippines with more than 20 million and China with more than 15 million, while Brazil, Vietnam and the United States have more than seven million each.
The report was launched to coincide with the International Day for Disaster Reduction.
It noted that the recorded number of disasters and casualties worldwide for the decade from 2002 to 2011 was alarming: 4,130 disasters, more than a million deaths and economic losses of at least $1.195 trillion.
