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Sustainable livelihoods and people’s vulnerability in the face of coastal hazards

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Abstract

The present study investigates into the link between people’s vulnerability in the face of coastal hazards and sustainable livelihoods. It focuses on the town of Borongan in the Philippines and draws on questionnaire-based surveys and focus group discussions. This research shows that local fishermen are often compelled to go out fishing despite pending typhoon or storm surge to sustain the daily needs of their family. Its also demonstrates that the capacity of these people to protect themselves from the threat is constrained by poor and fragile livelihoods. In the event of a crisis, the study argues that people resort to a range of adjustments on their daily life which is rooted in the strength and diversity of their livelihoods. To reduce people’s vulnerability and enhance capacities to face coastal hazards, the study fosters Community-Based Disaster Risk Reduction with special emphasis to sustainable livelihoods.

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Acknowledgement

Field work conducted as part of this study was supported by the University of Western Brittany (France), the French Embassy in the Philippines, the Duo-France programme, Planet Risk, Eastern Samar State University and the Local Government Units of Borongan.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. UMR 5194 Pacte – CNRS, Université de Grenoble, Grenoble, France

    JC Gaillard

  2. Department of Geography, University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines

    JC Gaillard & Emmanuel A. Maceda

  3. Faculté des Géosciences et de l’Environnement, Université de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland

    Elodie Stasiak

  4. Laboratoire Geomer, UMR 6554 LETG – CNRS, Brest, France

    Iwan Le Berre

  5. School of Environmental Science and Management, University of the Philippines Los Baños, Los Baños, Philippines

    Maria Victoria O. Espaldon

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  1. JC Gaillard
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Correspondence to JC Gaillard.

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Gaillard, J., Maceda, E.A., Stasiak, E. et al. Sustainable livelihoods and people’s vulnerability in the face of coastal hazards. J Coast Conserv 13, 119–129 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11852-009-0054-y

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