Adaptive Capacity - Climate Change Adaptation and Development: Transforming Paradigms and Practices - page 58

based on the distribution of the more and less advantageous outcomes of an
adaptation action ('winners' and 'losers'), and with regard to who is involved in
decision-making on adaptation (Adger et al. 2005).
Coping practices
This section systematizes coping strategies using the framework described
above and based on the authors' case studies in Brazil and El Salvador, and the
meta-evaluation of other articles.
Hazard reduction and avoidance
Urban dwellers use various measures to reduce hazard exposure (systematized
in the first column in Tables 4.1 and 4.2 ). For example, people build small
embankments to improve protection from river or sea flooding, or construct
retaining walls to protect their homes from landslides. The materials and
techniques used vary considerably, and include bricks, cement, stones, soil,
old tyres or combinations of these (Wamsler 2007a; Douglas et al. 2008; Jabeen
et al. 2010). Although individualistic physical and environmental measures
often prevail, there are also examples of communitarian actions. Residents join
together, for instance, to obtain construction materials or build simple flood
walls or retaining walls. Community or family members assist in actions taken
by individuals. A resident of San Salvador explains:
'I got old car tyres from my neighbours' repair shop to build a flood wall
next to the river.'
(Wamsler 2014:191)
Other people use biodegradable sandbags filled with soil and seeds,
which grow into green retaining walls, for instance in Medellín (Colombia)
(Inteligencias Colectivas 2011a) or grow plants to stabilize the soil, counteract
soil erosion and create windbreaks (Wamsler 2007a). In San Salvador, covering
slopes with plastic sheets to prevent landslides is a common measure.
In addition, people take physical measures that simultaneously reduce hazards
and location-specific vulnerabilities . Examples from our studies in Brazil and El
Salvador include reducing uncontrolled water flows that may cause landslides;
improving electrical connections to prevent fires; and measures to reduce the
heat island effect, thereby reducing vulnerability in the face of climate-related
temperature increase.
Measures to avoid hazards are also common among urban dwellers - such as not
building in obviously hazard-prone locations; setting up fences to prevent children
from getting close to risk zones; or moving to a safer house or location. However,
a very different strategy was also noted in San Salvador, where some people moved
into risk areas in order to be included in post-disaster resettlement programmes.