Catalog of Learning Activities

WBI Program: Urban
Activity Title: Risk Sensitive Land Use Planning Online Course
Activity ID: URD10-00-113
 

Contact Info

Task Manager: Katalin Demeter
Email: KDemeter@worldbank.org
Task Admin: Berna Yekeler
Email: byekeler@worldbank.org

Date and Cost

Start Date: December 07 2009
End Date: January 03 2010
Cost: No Fees

Description

Urban population is expected to reach 5 billion by 2030. In the new urban millennium, natural and human made disasters are likely to have their greatest impact in cities where half of humanity is expected to reside. Land use planning presents a tool to mitigate disaster risks by promoting sustainable land use and urban development practices. A risk-sensitive land use planning practice however, would require understanding of processes that shape disaster vulnerability as well as ways to integrate risk reduction into land use planning processes. Unfortunately there is very little understanding, motivation and sometimes resources, to incorporate risk reduction in existing planning and management practices at the local level.. As a consequence, disaster risk reduction is often undertaken in a reactive manner following a major disaster. Land use planning however provides an opportunity for pro-active risk reduction through location-based and/or structural approaches in the form of comprehensive plans, zoning and building regulations. If land use planning is formulated based on systematic processes of risk assessment, implemented diligently and monitored continuously, it has the potential to reduce existing, future and residual risks. This course is designed to facilitate the integration of disaster risk concerns in land use planning practices at the local level by improving the understanding of urban disaster vulnerability and corresponding land use planning and management processes. It aims to promote improved urban development and land management policies, regulations and tools that are risk-sensitive and focused on disaster risk reduction and mitigation.

Objective

To provide a better understanding of how risk-sensitive land use planning contributes to building disaster resilience of urban areas. It emphasizes the need for risk-sensitive land use planning to proactively address risk factors in urban areas and promote sustainable urban development. It reviews the aspects of disaster management where urban land use concerns arise, and introduces options, policies and tools, to consider in integrating risk assessment in land use planning and management for better results.

Topic(s)

Urban Development

Participants

Audience: urban land use planners, building officials, policy makers, community leaders and disaster management professionals

Target Country(s): India

Partners: NIDM

Site Information

Delivery Modes: Electronic Learning (40 Hours)
Locations: India
 Languages: English