Chapter 4. Environmental Impacts of Natural Disasters

Disaster impacts on the environment include ecosystem damage, natural-resource degradation, landform changes, pollution, and long-term consequences for environmental sustainability. Tsunamis and volcanic eruptions can damage forests, habitats, mangroves, coral reefs, and agricultural land. Forest fires associated with El Niño can destroy habitats, threaten biodiversity, and produce carbon emissions and regional haze. Underwater earthquakes and tsunamis can also damage marine ecosystems and affect coastal communities dependent on fisheries and tourism. Floods may contaminate water sources with mud, waste, and sediment, while landslides cause erosion and loss of fertile soil. Environmental degradation can subsequently increase future disaster risks and reduce community capacity to cope with hazards. Ecosystem protection and restoration, sustainable natural-resource management, and integration of disaster mitigation with climate-change policies are therefore essential for strengthening environmental resilience.