Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
FIGURE 10.17
Saquisili Feria, one of the most popular and colourful weekly markets in highland
Ecuador. (Photo by C. Stadel.)
Living with Risks
Living in or visiting mountain environments carries risks. These are as integral to the
lives of mountain people as the resources and other benefits present. Mountain envir-
onments are prone to many hazardous conditions and processes, and mountain people
and those in surrounding areas may have suffered disproportionately from natural dis-
asters (Hewitt 1997a, 1997b). Risk of disaster or accident is a function of both hazard
and vulnerability (Wisner et al. 2004), meaning that particular coincident geoecologic-
al and social-ecological conditions are essential components. Disasters and accidents
happen only in the presence of people, and result from their decisions made with and
without knowledge of the risks involved. Placing one's residence on a slope subject to
snow avalanches increases exposure to hazard, as does skiing on an avalanche slope
when the snow is unstable. Furthermore, cutting the forest on the slope may increase
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