Safeland Disaster Risk Reduction in Myanmar (SDG 3, SDG 8, SDG 9, SDG 11)
Description
In 2015, record flooding affected several regions of Myanmar during the monsoon season. Human losses were devastating, but additionally domestic animal were distressing to local economies. IFAW began exploring opportunities to develop a long-term regional disaster preparedness plan. With IFAW’s support, Ingapu Township formed an Animal Disaster Risk Reduction Committee and embarked on a project to build an earthen platform named the “Safeland,” where cows could be taken for refuge during floods. Construction began in January 2016 and was completed in June. Due to the success of the first Safeland, the project has been replicated in other townships.
The primary objective of the project was to establish a disaster preparedness plan in Myanmar that would enable risk reduction during natural disasters. In 2008, Cyclone Nargis, the worst natural disaster in the recorded history of Myanmar, killed more than 136,000 people and highlighted major deficiencies in the government’s disaster preparedness and response plans during natural disasters. Similarly, record flooding once again affected several regions across Myanmar in 2015, and because agriculture is the nation’s main industry, animal losses were devastating to local economies. IFAW thus committed to help and worked together with Giving a Future Animal Aid (GAF) and Myanmar Veterinary Association (MVA) to work with the farmers in the region during and after the disaster. One of the main goals has been to empower the local population through a project that focuses on preparedness instead of relief work after the disaster strikes, focusing on independence from international aid in times of disaster. <br />
After convening a meeting of villagers in the affected region and taking into consideration their needs, a Disaster Response Committee was formed and plans of building an earthen platform (where the most exposed livestock could take refuge during floods) began. In collaboration with the local Livestock, Breeding and Veterinary Department (LBVD), land was bought from two local farmers in January 2016 and the construction took place over the next few months which was implemented by a committee of locals and government officials. The area selected for the pilot-project was in the worst hit area of the Ingapu Township in the Hinthada district. Many impoverished farming families depend on animals for their livelihood, and the cattle lost in seasonal flooding has devastating effects on entire communities. Therefore, a platform in which cows can take refuge during the monsoon season can make a significant change in people’s and animal’s lives, preventing further devastation and loss from the seasonal floods.<br />
During the course of the project, IFAW met various practical challenges such as transferring money to a country that had only just begun opening up for foreign investment (as Myanmar did not have transnational bank systems in place yet) and ensuring that IFAW did not buy government-owned land in a previous totalitarian regime. In regards to the soil compaction process of the construction, finding sustainable and local materials, the erosion of the river, ensuring worker’s safety, and obtaining adequate engineer expertise were all challengers that had to be overcome.
The initial dialogue, interviews, and creation of a committee began in December 2015, while the actual construction of the first pilot Safeland in the spring of 2016 and was completed in June 2016, ready to be tested during the monsoon season. After it was tested, the team made a couple of modifications to the design in 2017 and added a large shelter on top, a covered entrance with a sturdier ramp up to the platform, and a water pump for clean drinking water. In addition, flood resistant plants were planted on the slopes to prevent erosion. Given the success of this initiative, IFAW was able to replicate this project two additional areas in the region. In addition, the Myanmar Livestock, Breeding and Veterinary Department (LBVD) adopted the project as well. As of today, IFAW is currently monitoring and consulting with the committees of the established Safelands. There is no need for significant modifications on the structures at the moment. As the government begins their new Safelands, IFAW will also provide guidance and ultimately will train the communities on effective use of the Safeland.
IFAW fostered innovation and helped build resilient infrastructure through the creation of the earthen platforms, promoting inclusive and sustainable industrialization for the region’s future development. In addition, the Animal Disaster Risk Reduction Committee employs local workers to build the Safelands; thus promoting development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, and creativity and innovation – all in the benefit of the local township communities.
By constructing earthen platforms in townships such as Ingapu, IFAW and its partners were able to make these cities and human settlements more sustainable, inclusive, safe, and resilient during the monsoon seasons; and farmers now feel secure knowing that they can keep their cows safe in future floods. Though there have been several challenges and obstacles IFAW has had to solve there have been limited negative impacts from the project itself due to the local community running the project on their own premises.
It has been the heart of the project to include all layers of society, specifically those on a community level which may otherwise be left out of the decision making process. Normally, the village leaders and elders are those who attend important meetings, poor farmers rarely have the time to leave their land. IFAW ensured the inclusion of poor farmers and also that all ten villages in the village tract were represented in the committee. This was important since the head-village often makes decisions on behalf of all the villages. When IFAW built the second and third Safeland, the team invited two village members who really embraced the project to join us in selecting the recipient villages and to serve as instructors for the trainings. Other districts have seen the positive outcome and there has been numerous requests to build similar structures throughout Myanmar. The original Safeland is currently used as a temporary primary school during the dry season since river erosion destroyed the school building. In past disasters, each animal owner had to care for their own animals. Through our community engagement model, farmers agreed to work collectively to create food banks prior to the flood season and then they will share responsibility of feeding all cows sheltered on the Safeland.
IFAW executed the program in close cooperation with Myanmar government. Working with the government allowed the project to ensure that infrastructure development directly benefited both, animals and people. In addition, incorporating community input through the initial assessment surveys led to unique ways of enabling and making the program sustainable and popular among the local communities in the Ayeyarwady Region.
Cross-cultural communication was an obstacle, however, and it remains a problem to a certain degree. In example, IFAW hired a local contractor (who is also a veterinarian) to serve as a facilitator and local project lead but explaining the utmost importance of sharing raw data, pictures, and honest feedback remains a challenge. IFAW continues to work on this issue. When IFAW finally understood the limitation of the local building manager, IFAW recruited an engineer from our own rescue team who could provide guidance during construction. Finally, river erosion in the area is a constant problem which makes the construction and the maintenance of the platform hard to predict and control. This impacts sustainability as well.
One of the main goals of the project has been to empower the local population by focusing on preparedness instead of relief work after a disaster strikes. Working on a motivational level, IFAW has seen a tremendous transformation among the locals, who turned from a feeling of despair to having control over their own lives and futures. This psychological component, and the encouragement it brings to start creative synergies and new alliances, should not be underestimated. Independence from international aid in times of disaster has also been one of the main goals of the project. These Safelands have been a sustainable solution where people are given responsibility for their own future and they are active participants instead of passive receivers.
IFAW’s work is cross-cultural on an international level. IFAW also focuses on building new relationships between the public-private sector, civil society and government. Concrete examples are field trainings by IFAW rescue teams as well as knowledge sharing with government staff from the agricultural department.
IFAW believes that this project is replicable and effective as long as true community engagement is used. The Safelands project has already been replicated in other villages by the Myanmar government.
Through the implementation of conservation and infrastructure development initiatives in the Ayeyarwady region of Myanmar, the local communities have the opportunity to establish safe practices that contribute to more sustainable livelihoods. With a new disaster preparedness plan, members of the local community have been able to expand their work (by building the earthen platforms), which has helped create economic growth in the community and also maintain agricultural and animal losses to the minimum during periods of heavy floods. <br />
IFAW was able to simultaneously reduce animal losses and animal suffering during monsoon seasons by improving government disaster preparedness plans during floods while contributing to the economic growth and a sustainable city and communities. Infrastructure and animal wellbeing initiatives have been a valuable tool to improve the long-term success and sustainability of the Ayeyarwady community and helped improve the safety and wellbeing of the community in a holistic manner. This project proves that sustainable conservation efforts must work with local communities and make sure the benefits of animal conservation are felt by the people that live with them. Employing local community members to build infrastructure is not only a source of income, but it further strengthens on the mutually beneficial link between the cows (as well as other animals) and the community. By improving conditions for cattle in the whole region, the project has significantly reduced food shortages, economic losses, and has increased the safety and wellbeing of the local community and surrounding ecosystems.
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Mark Hofberg, Campaigns Officer