The importance of land use control and documenting property rights in disaster risk reduction in Pacific Island countries

There is evidence linking climate change with an increase in natural disasters. The Pacific Islands have limited resources and experienced staff to implement Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) programmes. Land tenure in the Pacific Island Countries (PICs) is also unique with many countries having more than 80 percent as customary lands. This paper draws on lessons from two recent disasters and the existing literature on lessons from international disasters. Land issues to be addressed in DRR include people not being able to return to their land, and the complexity of resettlement of villages away from hazard-prone areas. The paper concludes that enforcing land use controls in hazard-prone areas can reduce the likelihood that people will settle in areas with high hazard risk. Also documenting property rights is one of the approaches that can increase tenure security and protect displaced people from eviction or land grabbing.