Developing a spatial-based approach for vulnerability assessment of Philippine watersheds and its potential in disaster management
Issue Date
9-2009
Abstract
The Philippines is considered as one of the most vulnerable countries in the developing world that has experienced various kinds of disaster such as typhoons, flooding, earthquakes, landslides and many other forms of environmental crises. Despite being an archipelago with 7,107 islands, 53% or around 15.8 million ha of its total land area are classified as forestlands. These areas have also been subjected to several catastrophic events and have greatly affected the condition of the environment, the lives of many Filipinos as well as the economy of the country. It is for these reasons that this study aimed to develop a spatial-based approach to assess the vulnerability of watersheds in the Philippines to climate change and to describe its potential in disaster management. The approach had three major components namely, climatic variability component, exposure and sensitivity component and the adaptive capacity component. It consisted of 22 indicators which were also classified under three aspects of vulnerability - hazard, damage and resistance indicators. The model used a scale of 1 to 5 to describe the levels of vulnerability for each indicator and their thresholds were generated using statistical test, existing indices and relevant literature. All indicators were given equal weights and the overall vulnerability classification of a watershed was evaluated by using a ratio between the average scale of all indicators used and the maximum scale. The results of the assessment were also summarized in a template which includes a vulnerability map, scales given for each indicator, overall points, vulnerability classification and category, list of most resilient and vulnerable indicators and other relevant information. © 2009 WIT Press.
Source or Periodical Title
WIT Transactions on the Built Environment
ISSN
1743-3509
Volume
110
Page
21-32
Document Type
Article
Language
English
Subject
Climate change, Disaster management, Spatial-based methods, Vulnerability assessment, Watershed
Recommended Citation
Tiburan, C.L., Kobayashi, S., Mizuno, K., Saizen, I. (2009). Developing a spatial-based approach for vulnerability assessment of Philippine watersheds and its potential in disaster management. WIT Transactions on the Built Environment, 110, 21-32. doi:10.2495/DMAN090031.
Identifier
doi:10.2495/DMAN090031.
Digital Copy
yes