Global Disaster Risk Reduction efforts have tended to focus on large but relatively rare events like big volcanic eruptions, which have advocated for the development of structural measures – such as deflection of lava flows, or non-structural measures such as evacuation plans
Communication of slow-onset, long-term hazards, such as vumo tends to be absent from risk management strategies in the Global South, and so are the efforts to develop resilience practices to this kind of hazard that are inspired by local knowledge and practices
The local knowledge and practice need to be taken into account if better communication strategies between the local authorities and those considered the most vulnerable to this hazard are to be developed
UNRESP has two main aims:
Firstly, to provide an account of the non-technical knowledge involved in shaping the way local inhabitants perceive the Masaya volcano, as well as their resilience practices. This will ensure the visibility of knowledge which exists outside the scientific realm of disaster management.
Secondly, to explore how the institutional management of volcanic risk and hazards is organised in the Masaya area, and Nicaragua more generally, in order to provide a nationally specific guidance to the communication and management of the risk posed by persistent volcanic emissions
The data is collected using series of qualitative methods including semi-structured interviews with local community members, scientists in Nicaragua, local and national Civil Protection Authorities, as well as representatives of Nicaraguan government agencies
Socilogical work is led by
Sebastien Nobert, University of Leeds
Xochilt Hernández Leiva, Universidad Americana
UNRESP 