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Asian Program for
Regional Capacity Enhancement for Landslide
Impact Mitigation (RECLAIM)
Introduction
Every year, Asia accounts for
the highest number of disaster events and
the highest number of fatalities and
affected victims in the world. According to
CRED statistics (2004), though the
occurrences of number of major disasters
have decreased, small disaster events in
isolated areas are increasing causing more
damages and fatalities cumulatively.
However, such isolated events are not given
much consideration by the decision-makers
and the communities themselves. For example,
landslide disasters escape the
categorization of “major disasters” due to
their isolated occurrences and low fatality
rate in one event. However, the cumulative
fatal impacts of landslides on human lives,
properties, socio-economic dimensions and
the environment are greater than cyclones
and hurricanes. During the last decade, out
of the total number of people killed and
affected worldwide from landslides, Asia
accounts for more than 88% (CRED, 2004).
However, little efforts have been made by
the stakeholder institutions to understand
the social and technical dimensions of this
serious issue and thereby to develop cost
effective landslide mitigation solutions.
The limited
number of interventions in landslide
mitigation activities in the Asian region
had opted ADPC together with
NGI to
implement the Asian Program for Regional
Capacity Enhancement for Landslide Impact
Mitigation (RECLAIM). RECLAIM Phase I
concentrated on raising awareness of
landslide risk and developing a regional
course on landslide risk mitigation. Phase II
focused on demonstrating cost effective
mitigation measures as well as national and
regional level knowledge sharing of best
practices on landslide risk mitigation in
seven (7) partnering countries namely,
Bhutan, India, Indonesia, Nepal,
Philippines, Sri Lanka and Thailand.
Phase
III, is expected to address promotion of
good practices for early warning for
landslide occurrence in a changing climate
scenario, and develop best practices for
early warning of landslides for sustainable
development in areas affected by landslides.
The participating countries of the project
are the seven existing country partners,
with the addition of China, Pakistan, Viet
Nam and Bangladesh.
During the
First World Landslide Forum held in Japan
2008, ADPC was recognized as one of the
“World Centre of Excellence on Landslide
Risk Reduction” for its successful work done
under the RECLAIM program.
Brochure
Project Implementing Partner
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Norwegian
Geotechnical Institute |
Established in 1953, and with a present
staff of 200 employees at its headquarter in
Oslo, NGI is a well known international
centre for research and consulting within
geo-technical and geo- environmental
engineering. It is organized as a private
independent foundation. Within the field of
natural hazards like landslides, flooding
aspects and earthquake engineering, NGI has
served clients in most part of the world. Of
particular relevance for the proposed
program are the recent projects that NGI has
undertaken in Venezuela, Nicaragua, El
Salvador, Madagascar, The Caucasus Region,
India, Bhutan and Hong Kong to assist on
landslide preventive measures. With the
newly established International Centre for
Geohazards (ICG) at NGI’s premises, the
resource base within this discipline has
grown significantly.
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Topics in this section:
For more information, contact
Mr. NMSI Arambepola
arambepola@adpc.net
adpc@adpc.net
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