Humanitarian Partnerships
WWF Provides Environmental Expertise to American Red Cross Humanitarian Relief Work
WWF and the American Red Cross have partnered to make sure that recovery programs include environmentally sustainable considerations - from design through implementation - which are essential for ensuring a long-lasting recovery for the affected communities.
Considering the Environment Benefits Releif Work
Following a disaster, survivors face two challenges: first, immediate needs must be met to prevent further suffering; and second, devastated communities and environments must be restored. Often, however, the high demand for natural resources - which are needed to rebuild these communities - can cause even more destruction to the environment and actually increase community vulnerability to future disasters.
In disaster-affected areas, the environment represents an important asset, and, if properly managed and maintained, it can provide a solid base for communities to rebuild their lives. Forests provide materials for construction, watersheds provide drinking water, and marine ecosystems serve as a source of food and economic opportunity. Healthy environments can also help protect communities against the effects of future disasters, making it even more important to restore communities and natural resources together.
Partnership Formation
The tsunami that swept across the Indian Ocean in December 2004 devastated entire communities and natural environments. Hundreds of thousands of people lost loved ones, homes and livelihoods, leading to one of the largest international humanitarian responses in recent history.
Shortly after the tsunami struck, WWF and the American Red Cross formed an innovative, five-year partnership to help survivors rebuild their communities as well as the natural environments on which they depend. By combining the humanitarian aid expertise of the American Red Cross with the environmental expertise of WWF, the Partnership seeks to ensure a long-lasting recovery by restoring livelihoods, protecting natural resources, and strengthening communities against future disasters.
How Are We Working Together?
As a global leader in delivering humanitarian aid, the American Red Cross is meeting immediate needs and engaging in long-term recovery efforts in areas such as water and sanitation, housing, livelihoods, and disaster management. As a leading authority on environment management, WWF is advising the American Red Cross on better practices for rebuilding communities with a commitment to long-term recovery success. WWF is providing guidance to help American Red Cross staff in the field address environmental issues as they continue to help communities recover.
Soon after the tsunami, WWF wrote the "Green Reconstruction Policy Guidelines"; as a road map to recovery and a guide for managing the consequences of disasters. These guidelines are helping the American Red Cross and others involved in tsunami recovery to plan and implement projects while protecting the natural resources those communities rely on.
Following a disaster, survivors face two challenges: first, immediate needs must be met to prevent further suffering; and second, devastated communities and environments must be restored. Often, however, the high demand for natural resources - which are needed to rebuild these communities - can cause even more destruction to the environment and actually increase community vulnerability to future disasters.
In disaster-affected areas, the environment represents an important asset, and, if properly managed and maintained, it can provide a solid base for communities to rebuild their lives. Forests provide materials for construction, watersheds provide drinking water, and marine ecosystems serve as a source of food and economic opportunity. Healthy environments can also help protect communities against the effects of future disasters, making it even more important to restore communities and natural resources together.
Partnership Formation
The tsunami that swept across the Indian Ocean in December 2004 devastated entire communities and natural environments. Hundreds of thousands of people lost loved ones, homes and livelihoods, leading to one of the largest international humanitarian responses in recent history.
Shortly after the tsunami struck, WWF and the American Red Cross formed an innovative, five-year partnership to help survivors rebuild their communities as well as the natural environments on which they depend. By combining the humanitarian aid expertise of the American Red Cross with the environmental expertise of WWF, the Partnership seeks to ensure a long-lasting recovery by restoring livelihoods, protecting natural resources, and strengthening communities against future disasters.
How Are We Working Together?
As a global leader in delivering humanitarian aid, the American Red Cross is meeting immediate needs and engaging in long-term recovery efforts in areas such as water and sanitation, housing, livelihoods, and disaster management. As a leading authority on environment management, WWF is advising the American Red Cross on better practices for rebuilding communities with a commitment to long-term recovery success. WWF is providing guidance to help American Red Cross staff in the field address environmental issues as they continue to help communities recover.
Soon after the tsunami, WWF wrote the "Green Reconstruction Policy Guidelines"; as a road map to recovery and a guide for managing the consequences of disasters. These guidelines are helping the American Red Cross and others involved in tsunami recovery to plan and implement projects while protecting the natural resources those communities rely on.