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SEEDS Asia - Towards Safer Communities.SEEDS Asia Projects
Project in the Maldives Building Resilience to Tsunamis in the Indian Ocean, the Maldives (UNISDR/ADRRN Project "Selamat")
Strengthening Resilience through Solid Waste Management in Milandhoo
Background:
Solid Waste Management (SWM) is crucial to conserve the environment and to keep the people on the Island safe and healthy. Management of solid waste is one of the most pressing environmental issues in the Maldives, and the current waste management situation could ultimately threaten the economic development of the country, which is linked to tourism and fishing industries. While National policies and strategies for environmental management are currently being prepared, individual islands are now in the process of implementing the guidelines for their respective islands. Recognizing this situation, to strengthen resilience of the country, SEEDS Asia will take Milandhoo a model Island and promote a community based solid waste management project. For this project to be successful and sustainable for the future, mobilization of the local government as well as local populations is inevitable.
Why SWM for disaster reduction?
According to our first baseline survey of the Island, we identified that current SWM practice could put the community vulnerable to natural disasters and climate change. Unmanaged and mixed wastes left around coastal area can easily be washed away during storm surges and tsunamis. This could cause both ground water and soil contamination or other environmental problems and communicable diseases. Proper waste management is one of the most important elements for disaster risk reduction, especially in small and low-lying islands such as Milandhoo.
Our approach and methodology:
SEEDS Asia highlights the importance of community mobilization in realizing changes in behavior. Our approach is on tailoring waste management practice to meet the specific needs of the Island and generate complete ownership of the initiative. Expecting to build a circulative and disaster resilient society in Milandhoo Island, this project will focus on public education and awareness raising on a) sources, composition and quantity of waste generation, b) waste separation, c) waste reduction, and d) recycle (adaption of composting) for the period of 1 year (year 2008). It is expected that an Island SWM practice is consolidated along with quantitative effects through the project, that the Milandhoo original SWM handbook will be completed and that the Island SWM guideline is implemented. Furthermore, the project will help the community resilient to future natural disasters; help the people being healthy and keep the Island clean.
Sub-projects
There are 4 components for the Selamat project in the Maldives other than Disaster Risk Reduction planning and training
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