The International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction and the Geohazards Unit at Polytechnic South West, Plymouth, UK

Abstract

Many natural disasters have been caused by geological events. The current response of governments and commercial interests to geohazards tends to be reactive rather than proactive which, in developing countries, has led to disastrous and largely unnecessary loss of life and property. These problems are currently being addressed by UN resolutions 42/169 and 44/236, declaring the decade 1990–2000 an International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction. The Department of Geological Sciences at Polytechnic South West responded to this initiative by consolidating its geohazard expertise in the Geological Hazards Assessment, Mitigation and Information Unit, which offers a geohazard assessment and mitigation consultancy service, a geohazard information and database facility, and geohazard training and awareness courses. It is committed to the geohazards education of politicians, administrators and the public, particularly from developing countries, in order to create the climate for a wider proactive response to geohazards.