Brent Doberstein

Environmental capacity-building in a transitional economy: the emergence of EIA capacity in Viet Nam

This article traces results of research conducted on the changing role of EIA and emergence of EIA capacity in Viet Nam. It reviews literature on the typical position of EIA in the development planning processes of developing countries. The role for EIA in Viet Nams environmental planning challenge is chronicled over three distinct time periods. EIA capacity-building efforts by development aid agencies are introduced, and the present status of EIA in Viet Nam and limits to its effectiveness are discussed. There exist a series of unmet EIA capacity-building needs in Viet Nam, including defining a shared ‘vision’ for EIA among development aid agencies and Vietnamese development planners, and developing a mechanism to harmonize EIA capacity-building efforts with such a vision.

Towards guidelines for post-disaster vulnerability reduction in informal settlements

Although the development community has long recognised that securing land tenure and improving housing design can benefit significantly informal settlement residents, there is little research on these issues in communities exposed to natural disasters and hazards. Informal settlements often are located on land left vacant because of inherent risks, such as floodplains, and there is a long history worldwide of disasters affecting informal settlements. This research tackles the following questions: how can informal settlement vulnerabilities be reduced in a post-disaster setting?; and what are the key issues to address in post-disaster reconstruction? The main purpose of the paper is to develop a set of initial guidelines for post-disaster risk reduction in informal settlements, stressing connections to tenure and housing/community design in the reconstruction process. The paper examines disaster and reconstruction responses in two disaster-affected regions-Jimani, Dominican Republic, and Vargas State, Venezuela-where informal settlements have been hit particularly hard.

Pipeline risk assessment and risk acceptance criteria in the State of Sao Paulo, Brazil

This paper discusses the use of risk assessment (RA) for analyzing the environmental suitability of natural gas pipelines and highlights RAs linkages with environmental impact assessment. The paper contends that RA is an essential tool when assessing the suitability of gas pipelines, and that risks associated with such proposed activities should be used as fundamental criteria to determine route selection. By doing so, fatality risks related to pipeline failures can be reduced. The paper also contends that the risk acceptance criteria adopted by the State of Sao Paulo are overly permissive when compared to other criteria used around the world. Therefore, the State should consider revising and strengthening its risk acceptance criteria to be up-to-date with international standards.

Citizen Participation in Post-disaster Flood Hazard Mitigation Planning in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada

Citizen participation is recognized as a standard feature of democratic planning. This article examines the role of citizen participation in a post-disaster flood hazard mitigation planning program in Peterborough. The “six strategic planning choices” outlined by Brody, Godschalk, and Burby (2003) served as an analysis framework which was applied to Peterboroughs post-disaster flood hazard mitigation program. Primary data were derived from semi-structured key informant interviews (n=15) with senior local government officials, consultants, and community group representatives. Secondary data and direct observation were used to contextualize and extend research findings. The research revealed that post-disaster flood hazard mitigation in Peterborough has featured strong citizen participation, and for that reason was relatively successful. However, there are at least three areas of post-disaster planning where citizen participation could have been improved. The article concludes that the Brody, Godschalk, and Burby (2003) framework is a valuable guide for planning practice and an evaluative research tool that revealed a number of significant strengths and several weaknesses of the Peterborough flood hazard mitigation planning process.

Principles for climate-related resettlement of informal settlements in less developed nations: a review of resettlement literature and institutional guidelines

The severity of climatic changes threatening urban coastal areas is introducing and intensifying environmental hazards that are endangering physical safety and livelihood security. This paper considers retreat, one of three broad adaptation options proposed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, as a possible climate change adaptation strategy for low-income communities in less developed nations. Resettlement as climate change adaptation is a developing concept, with minimal guidelines and academic literature on the topic. Thus, this review expands beyond climate change, considering three literature themes surrounding resettlement: (1) climate change, (2) hazard and natural disasters (i.e. floods, hurricanes, and earthquakes), and (3) economic development (i.e. dam construction and natural resource extraction). The review extracts successful resettlement planning and approaches, as well as the lessons learned, to identify five principles for resettlement in a climate change context: Proactivity, Communication and Participation, Permanence, Compensation, and Livelihood Protection. The results of the analysis suggest five principles that can be used as a guideline for implementing resettlement as climate change adaptation for low-income and informal communities in less developed nations. Ultimately, these recommendations can be used to assess the appropriateness and feasibility of employing resettlement as managed retreat in less developed nations.