Landslides, land-use systems and food security
Conveners : Thomas Hofer
Session description :
Landslides pose considerable risks to the environments, land use systems and the livelihoods of communities throughout the world. It is a stark fact that it is often the poorest and hungriest people who are the most seriously hit by these dramatic events. In developing countries, for example, marginalised people are often forced to settle and to cultivate land in hazard-prone areas due to population pressure and accordingly the effects of landslides on lives and assets can be disastrous. Also, there are a number of human activities, such as inappropriate road construction or misuse of land resources, which can trigger landslides. Landslide risk management needs to be considered part of overall land use planning and of the livelihood system. Accordingly, the human dimension related to landslide hazards will get particular attention during that session. The session will be prepared and implemented in a very inter-disciplinary way and will cover a variety of aspects related to landslides, land use systems and food security.
