Introduction

Recognizing that Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Environmental Management (EM) are closely linked and that it is essential to systematically integrate environmental  management into disaster risk reduction framework and vice-versa, the Disaster Environment Working Group for Asia (DEWGA) consists of six founding institutions from the Asia region, committed to increase the synergy between the two sectors and promote effective integration of environmental management concerns into disaster risk reduction programs and vice versa. Established in 2007, DEWGA acts as a small, semi-formal, open-ended, regional, action-oriented, cross-sectoral partnership to explore avenues through which the partners can work with each other to minimize long term environmental impacts and degradation, as a key disaster risk reduction measure.

Objective

The aim of DEWGA is to create a multi-disciplinary community of practitioners in the Asia Pacific region that is concerned with closing the gap among sectors with a view to increasing effectiveness of risk reduction – presuming that environmental sustainability is a key success factor – whether specific interventions on the ground or long-term strategies. It is envisaged that this will be achieved through the following objectives.

i) Serve as a collective body to advocate and promote linkages between disaster risk reduction and environmental management.

ii) Create a space in which the partners can identify and undertake bilateral or joint programs of work.

iii) Exchange information on new and upcoming initiatives (e.g. events, programs, research and publications) that provide structured opportunities to strengthen these linkages.

iv) Actively promote integration of disaster risk reduction and environmental sustainability into respective work programs.

DEWGA and beyond

To promote collaboration and avoid unnecessary duplication in the number of disaster reduction partnerships in the region, the Group has sought association with the ISDR-Asia Partnership and of the UNEP-led ISDR Partnership for Environment and Disaster Risk Reduction, to ensure that the initiative is better linked and integrates its activities along the lines of the Hyogo Framework for Action.