Tearfund Disaster Management Key Learning
Environment
Last Updated: 15 November 2009
Specific actionable recommendations and relevant background information
1
Assessments need to ensure they don’t address one issue positively
but make another one worse
Source of Learning:
All
Background Information:
Environmental sustainability is connected with water resources, food security, climate change and
disasters. Activities we undertake to address one problem can increase problems with another.
Environmental assessments should be used to ensure our project activities don’t increase other
vulnerabilities. For example a livelihoods project could inadvertently pollute groundwater; a food
security project could reduce biodiversity and cause soil loss.
2
Using burnt bricks for construction needs to be avoided and other
more environmentally friendly alternatives found
Source of Learning:
South Sudan, Malawi, Darfur/N.Sudan, Other
Background Information:
In many construction projects (building houses, schools, etc) projects the tradition has been to
use burnt bricks (fired clay bricks), despite the huge environmental impact from use of wood when
firing the bricks. The alternatives are often limited, based on cost (eg. the use of cement to make
concrete blocks), preference (unfamiliar alternative materials) or time limitations (deadlines to
complete the work making it difficult to trial alternative approaches). Some projects have tried
rammed earth bricks on an experimental basis and the results are promising.
3
Alternatives to slash and burn agriculture need to be encouraged in
agriculture and food security projects
Source of Learning:
Liberia, DRC
Background Information:
In many countries, the traditional farming method has been one of slash and burn – clearing
forest land and using if for a few years before moving on to clear new land. Although programme
time frames make it difficult to support change in long term agricultural practice, small steps can
be taken to encourage farmers to consider alternative more sustainable techniques. In Liberia,
the projects encouraged the development of swamp rice cultivation, which is more sustainable
and productive (more than one harvest per year). Other options are zero tillage farming;
permaculture; use of organic fertilisers and pesticides and restoration of natural topographical
features (rocks, slopes, water courses) and biodiversity - replanting traditional trees and shrubs
helps restore the water cycle, natural biodiversity, soil quality (nitrogen fixing).
4
Avoid the use of coal in projects
Source of Learning:
Niger
Background Information:
In a project in Niger, plans to use coal as part of a project promoting a new design of fuel efficient
stove were scrapped when the negative impact of using coal became clear. Coal burning is a
major contributor to climate change and open cast mining of coal is hugely damaging to the
environment.
5
Projects involving the management of natural resources need to be
sustainable, particularly water
Source of Learning:
Darfur/N.Sudan
Background Information:
The 2006 Darfur environmental study shows we must protect natural resources. Sustainable
resource management is essential in all responses, considering population size, livelihoods,
water, timber & other natural resources, agricultural practices. Cross agency collaboration on
natural resource management should include:
o Water resource management, including centrally coordinated borehole water level monitoring,
water harvesting, sand dams, water saving devices such as tippy taps outside latrines
o Forest management, tree planting, fuel efficient stoves, alternative construction materials
o Empower beneficiary management structures for natural resource protection.