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2023-02-09T15:02:32+00:00

Hazard assessments

Report on field survey to assess inundation levels after a flooding event from heavy rainfall in June 2021 in the urban centre of Quepos (here)
Report on storm surge modelling and inundation maps for Quepos, Manuel Antonio, and Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio.
Report on modelling and inundation maps for flooding from heavy rainfall in the urban centre of Quepos.

Ecosystem assessments

Report on assessment of ecosystem services related to disaster risk reduction in the coastal and marine area of the Savegre Biosphere Reserve (here)

Project organizations and partners

2022-09-28T11:14:21+00:00

This project is a Joint Initiative between the Tsunami Unit (TSU) of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) and UNESCO Man and Biosphere Programme (MAB) which benefits from and builds on the complementary expertise and experience of both groups.

Under the auspices of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC), the TSU supports the 150 IOC Member States in assessing tsunami risk, implementing Tsunami Early Warning Systems (EWS) and educating communities at risk about preparedness measures. The TSU has demonstrated strong capacity to coordinate and support tsunami preparedness efforts through their Tsunami Ready programme, which also provides strong foundations and processes for developing preparedness and response plans under this Joint Initiative. Four communities in Costa Rica have been recognized by IOC as Tsunami Ready, including Quepos, a bordering city of the Savegre Biosphere Reserve.

The MAB Programme is a scientific programme of UNESCO which supports sustainable use and conservation of biosphere resources and improvement of human-environment relationships, including through the designation of Biosphere Reserves. Management of and support to Biosphere Reserves has endowed the MAB with unique knowledge about characteristics, needs, and processes of these sites. In addition, the Ibero-American and Caribbean Network of MAB Committees and Biosphere Reserves (IberoMAB) held a symposium in 2018 on natural disasters in Biosphere Reserves which provides initial ideas and information on managing such events in Biosphere Reserves.

The Joint Initiative is being coordinated jointly between the TSU and MAB headquarters and the UNESCO San Jose Office in Costa Rica.

Other institutions and partners:

- Comisión Nacional de Emergencia (CNE)
- Comisión Municipal de Emergencia (CME) of Quepos
- Municipalidad de Quepos (local government)
- Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio
- Sistema Nacional de Áreas de Conservación (SINAC)
- Asociación Amigos de la Naturaleza del Pacífico Central y Sur (ASANA)
- Sistema Nacional de Monitoreo de Tsunamis de Costa Rica (SINAMOT), Universidad Nacional Costa Rica (UNA)
- Universidad de Costa Rica (UCR)

Project Guiding Committee

The Guiding Committee of the TSU-MAB Joint Initiative was established to provide a platform for regular communication between the key project stakeholders, thereby enabling project coordination, monitoring and evaluation. The Guiding Committee met regularly throughout the project implementation period, approximately every two to three weeks.

The principal objectives of the Guiding Committee were to:
- Review implementation progress against agreed timelines and plans, share project achievements and outputs, and discuss unanticipated issues or challenges,
- Agree on how to address specific challenges and any related updates to project plans and processes,
- Coordinate efforts between the various stakeholders involved in the Project, including outreach with municipal and regional authorities who need to be engaged in the Project, and
- Ensure regular and fluid communication between key stakeholders throughout the Project process.

Ecosystem services and DRR

2022-09-28T11:09:30+00:00

In the context of the TSU-MAB Initiative, the role and functions of ecosystem services in the coastal area of the Savegre BR is being explored. The aim of this study is to analyze types of coastal ecosystems and land cover categories, such as mangrove and riparian forest; and to identify and assess the ecosystem services that they provide in relation to disaster risk reduction, addressing specifically tsunami, storm surge, and stream/river flooding from precipitation events.

Information about ecosystem services provided by the coastal and marine areas of the Savegre Biosphere Reserve is useful to increase support for safeguarding the multiple benefits provided by these ecosystems, to inform management decisions, to ensure equity in resource use, and to enable evaluation of the consequences of management or policy changes on ecosystem services provided by coastal ecosystems. Quantifying and mapping these benefits will help the Savegre Biosphere Reserve managers and local decision-makers justify the importance of local ecosystems for biodiversity conservation, attract new sources of funding, manage the Biosphere Reserve more effectively, and allocate scarce financial or human resources to the communities that most need them. Moreover, increasing awareness of the benefits provided by these ecosystems can help solicit support for safeguarding them.

The involvement of local stakeholders is key to identify relevant ecosystem services as well as to provide sources of data, information and knowledge that can result in a more robust assessment and ensure that assessment results are used for management and decision-making processes. Furthermore, the outcomes of this study will be shared with local institutions in a designated workshop on nature-based solutions (planned for November 2022) and will support the development of mechanisms to compensate landowners for implementing management practices and nature-based solutions that support disaster risk reduction.

Simulation and drill exercises

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Community workshops

2022-09-27T14:08:53+00:00

Community participation was a pillar of the project because it is critical to effective and sustainable preparedness and resilience of a community. Within the scope of the project, three (3) workshops were held as well as two (2) webinars.

1. Workshop: “Fortalecimiento de capacidades sobre amenazas costeras en la Reserva de Biosfera Savegre”

Date: 25 November 2021

Location: Hotel Kamuk, Quepos, Costa Rica

Number of participants: 27 participants
- 59% male and 41% female
- From 20 different organizations and institutions

Summary: The workshop brought together key local stakeholders with the aim to strengthen knowledge and capacities related to coastal hazards that affect the coastal communities of the Savegre Biosphere Reserve. The agenda included presentations on each of the three hazards affecting the Savegre Biosphere Reserve (tsunamis, storm surges, and inundation from heavy rainfall), information about Biosphere Reserves and the specific context of the Savegre Biosphere Reserve, and a report on the structure of Emergency Management in Costa Rica. The presentations were delivered by scientific experts, a representative from the Board of the Savegre Biosphere Reserve, and a representative from the Comision Nacional de Emergencia (CNE). This workshop provided knowledge relevant and necessary to subsequent preparedness activities of the TSU/MAB Joint Initiative.

Additional information about this workshop can be found on the event page (here).

2. Webinar: “Conocer y convivir con la naturaleza: donde se unen la tierra y el mar”

Date: 11 February 2022

Location: Online

Number of participants: 25 participants
- 8% male and 92% female

Summary: This webinar was held in celebration of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science and organized in coordination with the Ministry of Science, Innovation, Technology, and Telecommunications of Costa Rica (MICITT). The target audience of the webinar was girls between 9 and 12 years old nationwide, with a particular focus on girls living within the Savegre Biosphere Reserve. The (then) Vice-President of Costa Rica, Epsy Campbell, provided opening words to the webinar. The content of the meeting focused on the contributions of Ing. Andrea Herrera Chaves (ASANA) and Dr.rer.nat. Silvia Chacón (SINAMOT) within the scope of the TSU/MAB Joint Initiative.

3. Webinar: “Preparación ante amenazas costeras en la Reserva de la biosfera Savegre”

Date: 17 March 2022

Location: Online

Number of participants: 39 participants
- 53% male and 47% female
- From over 25 organizations
- 62 viewers of the webinar on UNESCO San Jose Facebook livestream; so total of 101 participants in the webinar

Summary: The purpose of this webinar was to strengthen capacities and knowledge relating to coastal hazards for key local stakeholders that were not able to participate in the above workshop “Fortalecimiento de capacidades sobre amenazas costeras en la Reserva de Biosfera Savegre”. The webinar also strove to provide a platform for the community to engage in and interact with project experts and its leading organizations, proving a space for questions and discussion. The webinar provided knowledge relevant and necessary to subsequent preparedness activities of the TSU/MAB Joint Initiative.

Additional information about this workshop can be found on the event page (here).

4. Workshop: “Creación de mapas de evacuación ante peligros costeros para Quepos y Manuel Antonio”

Dates: 24-25 March 2022

Location: Meeting room, Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica

Number of participants (Day 1): 33 participants
- 73% male and 26% female

Number of participants (Day 2): 26 participants
- 65% male and 35% female

Summary: The workshop was held with the aim of preparing and finalizing tsunami evacuation maps, based on the coastal hazard inundation maps and community knowledge through participatory approaches. Participants had the opportunity to study a first draft of evacuation maps (prepared by SINAMOT), and to contribute their knowledge to identify best evacuation routes, assembly points, safe zones, and signage location. The unique approach of this workshop and these evacuation maps was to consider risks associated with storm surges and inundation from heavy rain coastal hazards in the elaboration of tsunami evacuation maps, to better prepare for the case of a multi-hazard event.

Additional information about this workshop can be found on the event page (here).

5. Workshop: Emergency Response Plans (ERPs) and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for Quepos, Manuel Antonio, and Parque Nacional de Manuel Antonio

Date: 28 April 2022

Location:
- Session 1: House of Culture of Quepos
- Session 2: Meeting room, Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica

Number of participants:
- Session 1: CME (about 25 participants)
- Session 2: Manuel Antonio National Park rangers and managers

Summary: The workshop was organized by the CME and the Manuel Antonio National Park Administration to present updated Emergency Response Plans (ERPs) and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) relevant to coastal hazards in the Savegre Biosphere Reserve. Participants included officials and community leaders involved in emergency response, environmental management, urban planning and tourism. Session 1 of the workshop was held for ERPs and SOPs relevant to Quepos, with much of the discussion surrounding the review of the tree call for the tsunami response plans. During Session 2, a systematic review of the Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio ERP was conducted, with a discussion about holding a simulation exercise in addition to the planned drill exercise in May 2022. The ERPs and SOPs that were updated or created as part the review and workshop process were the following:
- Plan de Emergencia de Quepos
- Plan de Respuesta de emergencia para tsunamis en la comunidad de Quepos
- Plan de preparativos y respuesta ante emergencias por tsunamis de la comunidad de Manuel Antonio
- Plan de Accion Climatica de Quepos
- Plan de Emergencia PNMA

Hazard assessments

2022-09-27T14:00:22+00:00

Coastal hazard assessments in the Savegre Biosphere Reserve

Through initial consultations with experts, national and local emergency responders, and the Board of the Savegre Biosphere Reserve, the project identified three coastal hazards which pose a threat to the Savegre Biosphere Reserve: tsunamis, storm surges, and inundation from heavy rainfall. the assessment of coastal hazards constituted Phase 1 of the project.

The intent of this first phase of implementation was to establish a sound scientific basis to inform preparedness activities in subsequent phases of the project. The following deliverables were completed within the scope of these actions:

• Report on field survey to assess inundation levels after a flooding event from heavy rainfall in June 2021 in the urban centre of Quepos (available here).

• Bathymetry data for the coastline of Quepos, Manuel Antonio, and Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio.

• Topography data for the urban centre of Quepos.
• Joint digital elevation model (DEM) including bathymetry data, topography data, and aligned with 2012 LIDAR data, for the urban centre of Quepos.
• Storm surge model, related report, and related inundation maps for Quepos, Manuel Antonio, and Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio.
• Tsunami model and related inundation maps for Quepos, Manuel Antonio, and Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio.
• Model, related report, and related inundation maps of flooding of rivers/creeks from heavy rainfall in the urban centre of Quepos.

Background and purpose

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Background

Coastal and island Biosphere Reserves are highly vulnerable to coastal hazards, which will become more frequent and intense due to climate change.

Biosphere Reserves are UNESCO-designated sites which promote solutions reconciling the conservation of biodiversity with its sustainable use. A 2015 UNESCO survey found that 84 percent of Biosphere Reserves—UNESCO-designated areas that promote management approaches and solutions which reconcile conservation of biodiversity with sustainable use—considered natural hazards to be an important issue. The 2015 survey and a follow-up survey in 2017 found that 89% and 94%, respectively, of Biosphere Reserves are exposed to natural hazards. In fact, natural hazards have already caused significant damage to several UNESCO-designated sites. As such, there is an urgent need to increase disaster risk reduction (DRR) within Biosphere Reserves. Few DRR plans and procedures sufficiently accounting for the threat of inundation and damage from tsunamis and other coastal hazards have been developed for Biosphere Reserves globally.

Although most coasts worldwide are threatened by coastal hazards, Costa Rica is particularly vulnerable due to exposure across both its Pacific and Caribbean coastlines. The coastal hazards which are specifically threatening to Costa Rica include tsunamis, storm surges, and urban flooding from heavy rainfall. Since 2014, the Sistema Nacional de Monitoreo de Tsunamis de Costa Rica (SINAMOT) Programme—Costa Rica’s National Tsunami Warning Centre (NTWC)—has recorded over 350 potentially tsunamigenic events, four of which caused tsunamis registered in Costa Rica. On 15 January 2022, the Hunga-Tonga volcanic eruption caused a tsunami which was registered across the Pacific basin, including in Costa Rica. In addition, in June 2021, the urban centre of Quepos, a city within the Savegre Biosphere Reserve, was flooded due to heavy rainfall and inundation from the Quebrada Padre which runs through the city centre.

The Savegre Biosphere Reserve is the only coastal and marine Biosphere Reserve in Costa Rica. Located approximately 190km southwest of San Jose along the Central Pacific coast, it boasts a high level of biodiversity and endemism. It is also a socially and economically significant area, with a population of 50,000 inhabitants as well as a significant and growing number of tourists and seasonal visitors. The Savegre Biosphere Reserve is particularly vulnerable to coastal hazards because it attracts thousands of visitors every year and is home to diverse populations, including vulnerable and at-risk populations living in more remote areas. Since tourism is a primary source of income for Costa Rica and for this region specifically, developing preparedness and response mechanisms for coastal hazard risk in this area is critical to save lives and livelihoods. Economic strain and the need for economic recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic has placed further importance on safeguarding socio-economic opportunities in the Savegre Biosphere Reserve. Moreover, risk of and impacts from coastal hazards are expected to become more severe due to climate change.

Purpose

While most coastal hazards cannot be prevented, risks and vulnerability can be reduced through programmes that develop resilient communities and build preparedness capacities.

In response to the identified need to develop preparedness to coastal hazards in the Savegre Biosphere Reserve, the Joint Initiative of the Tsunami Unit (TSU) of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) and UNESCO Man and Biosphere Programme (MAB) established their Joint Initiative “Integrated approach to coastal hazards in the Savegre Biosphere Reserve, Costa Rica: saving lives, protecting biodiversity”. The project benefits from and builds on the complementary expertise and experience of both groups. It was launched in July 2021 and is due to be completed in autumn 2022. It focuses on three areas of the Savegre Biosphere Reserve: the urban centre of Quepos, Manuel Antonio, and the Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio. These communities were selected as they are particularly vulnerable to coastal hazards due to population density, the presence of coastal stretches and beaches, and important economic, including tourism, fishing, and agriculture.

TSU/MAB Joint Initiative on coastal hazard preparedness in the Savegre Biosphere Reserve

2021-09-30T11:50:46+00:00

Project title: Tsunami Unit (UNESCO/IOC) - Man and Biosphere Programme (UNESCO) Joint Initiative: Integrated approach to coastal hazards in the Savegre Biosphere Reserve, Costa Rica: saving lives, protecting biodiversity

Organization: UNESCO/IOC Tsunami Unit (TSU) and UNESCO Man and Biosphere Programme (MAB)

Start of the project: 01/07/2021

Implementation period: 18 months

Geographical scope: Savegre Biosphere Reserve, Costa Rica.

Risk scenarios covered: Tsunamis, storm surges, and inundation from heavy rainfall

Brief Summary: This project is designed to strengthen the resilience of vulnerable coastal communities in Savegre Biosphere Reserve by developing an integrated approach to coastal hazard preparedness. At the end of the project, selected communities of the Savegre Biosphere Reserve will have an improved understanding of coastal hazard risks based on sound scientific assessments; improved emergency procedures and policies; strengthened synergies between key stakeholders and enhanced governance structures within the Biosphere Reserve; recognized Tsunami Ready communities; and the inclusion of nature-based solutions to enhance resilience to coastal hazards. The multi-hazard approach of the project will also contribute to an overall stronger and more adaptable tsunami early warning system in Costa Rica. In addition, by focusing on the DRR-biodiversity nexus, the project will contribute to intersectoral solutions to coastal hazards, notably by examining opportunities for nature-based solutions to mitigate impacts. Finally, based on this pilot project, the TSU and MAB will develop guidelines for implementing coastal hazard preparedness in Biosphere Reserves to inform replication worldwide.

Project objectives

The TSU-MAB Joint Initiative has three overarching objectives:

Project implementation plan

The project will be implemented in five phases, each with their own activities and outputs.

Lead organisations

This project is a Joint Initiative between the Tsunami Unit (TSU) and the Man and Biosphere programme (MAB) which benefits from and builds on the complementary expertise and experience of both groups.

The MAB is a scientific programme of UNESCO which supports sustainable use and conservation of biosphere resources and improvement of human-environment relationships, including through the designation of Biosphere Reserves. Management of and support to Biosphere Reserves has endowed the MAB with unique knowledge about characteristics, needs, and processes of these sites. In addition, the Ibero-American and Caribbean Network of MAB Committees and Biosphere Reserves (IberoMAB) held a symposium in 2018 on natural disasters in Biosphere Reserves which provides initial ideas and information on managing such events in Biosphere Reserves.

For additional information about the project, please contact Celine Tiffay and/or Andres Rodriguez.

Working Group on Tsunamis and Other Hazards Related to Sea-Level Warning and Mitigation Systems

2021-03-08T21:14:38+00:00

To advise the IOC governing bodies on coordinated development of warning and mitigation system for tsunamis and other hazards related to sea level that are of common interest to all the ICGs, the IOC Assembly at it 24th Session (Resolution XXIV-14) established a Working Group on Tsunamis and Other Hazards Related to Sea-Level Warning and Mitigation Systems (TOWS-WG).

Working Group on Tsunamis and Other Hazards Related to Sea-Level Warning and Mitigation Systems (TOWS-WG)

Chair: Dr Srinivasa Kumar Tummala

IOC Technical Secretary: Head of the Tsunami Resilience Section

Terms of Reference

The TOWS-WG will:

(a) Advise on co-ordinated development and implementation activities on warning and mitigation systems for tsunamis and other hazards related to sea level of common priority to all ICG/TWSs, with special emphasis on:

(i) Harmonization and standardization of relevant observation, data management and communication, forecast and warning practices

(ii) Development of synergies in capacity-building and outreach activities

(iii) Reinforcement of intergovernmental, international and national capabilities on hazard knowledge, vulnerability, and impact assessment

(iv) Effective coordination with all related subsidiary bodies, experts groups and partner organizations with relevant mandates.

(b) Report to the IOC Executive Council and Assembly on these common activities and propose new actions, as required.
Advise the IOC Executive Council and Assembly regarding:

(i) Instructions to the relevant subsidiary bodies responsible for coordinating the implementation of TOWS-WG actions

(ii) Any liaison or consultation required with relevant international and intergovernmental stakeholders in implementing TOWS-WG actions not under the unique mandate of IOC.

The TOWS-WG shall review and provide guidance on establishing the framework mechanism for a comprehensive, sustained and integrated end-to-end global system covering tsunami and other hazards related to sea level, exploiting existing IOC mechanisms, capacities and capabilities, and facilitating priority projects and programmes, in alignment with the IOC Strategic Plan and IOC Executive Council decisions and in coordination with relevant stakeholders.

Membership

The membership of the TOWS-WG will be constituted by:

(a) The Chairpersons of the four ICG-TWSs, and of I-GOOS, JCOMM, IODE

(b) Three Members of the IOC Executive Council, nominated by the Chairperson, taking into account geographical distribution

(c) High-level representatives invited from the key TOWS-WG stakeholders in disaster risk reduction outside IOC, including WMO and other ISDR System members, FDSN/GSN, and other relevant intergovernmental and international agencies

Appointed members of the Executive Council may be re-appointed for a second two-year term.

The TOWS-WG shall be chaired by one of the Vice-Chairpersons of IOC and co-chaired by one of the Chairpersons of an IOC Subsidiary Body, on the recommendation of the Chairperson of the Commission after consultations with the IOC Officers

The TOWS-WG shall meet once a year, prior to the IOC Executive Council or the Assembly.

The IOC Executive Secretary shall provide the secretariat for the TOWS-WG.