December 12, 2004: Headlines: COS - Philippines: Deforestation: Flooding: Sun Star, Philippines: Generally, people equate flashfloods with deforestation. Is this true? Philippines RPCV Dr. Patrick Durst replies: "Whenever there is a catastrophic flood, people frequently jump to blame deforestation as the cause. This is rarely the case, although deforestation can exacerbate the impact.

Peace Corps Online: Directory: Philippines: Peace Corps Philippines: The Peace Corps in the Philippines: December 12, 2004: Headlines: COS - Philippines: Deforestation: Flooding: Sun Star, Philippines: Generally, people equate flashfloods with deforestation. Is this true? Philippines RPCV Dr. Patrick Durst replies: "Whenever there is a catastrophic flood, people frequently jump to blame deforestation as the cause. This is rarely the case, although deforestation can exacerbate the impact.

By Admin1 (admin) (pool-151-196-43-253.balt.east.verizon.net - 151.196.43.253) on Friday, December 17, 2004 - 8:00 pm: Edit Post

Generally, people equate flashfloods with deforestation. Is this true? Philippines RPCV Dr. Patrick Durst replies: "Whenever there is a catastrophic flood, people frequently jump to blame deforestation as the cause. This is rarely the case, although deforestation can exacerbate the impact.

Generally, people equate flashfloods with deforestation. Is this true? Philippines RPCV Dr. Patrick Durst replies: Whenever there is a catastrophic flood, people frequently jump to blame deforestation as the cause. This is rarely the case, although deforestation can exacerbate the impact.

Generally, people equate flashfloods with deforestation. Is this true? Philippines RPCV Dr. Patrick Durst replies: "Whenever there is a catastrophic flood, people frequently jump to blame deforestation as the cause. This is rarely the case, although deforestation can exacerbate the impact.

Deforestation: Of flashfloods and death
By Henrylito D. Tacio

HISTORY repeats itself. That is what happening to our country once more. The typhoons that came one after another--Unding, Violeta, Winnie, and Yoyong-left many people homeless; hundreds, if not thousands, are dead or missing.

A "nightmare happening all over again," one expert commented, referring to the tragedy that befell Ormoc City in November 1991. Some 5,000 people were reportedly killed as a result of landslides and floods caused by typhoon.

"We're reliving a nightmare," he pointed out. "It's all because we're losing our forests."

"Our forests are denuded, so that when it rains, the water go straight to the rivers and homes, causing flashfloods," Hernando Avellaneda, the mayor of General Nakar, told GMA Network's radio station zdBB.

He said that almost 40 percent of the people in his town depend on illegal logging for a living.

{Excerpt}

Generally, people equate flashfloods with deforestation. Is this true? Dr. Patrick Durst replies: "Whenever there is a catastrophic flood, people frequently jump to blame deforestation as the cause. This is rarely the case, although deforestation can exacerbate the impact.

"The usual basic cause of floods/landslides is simply too much rain occurring in too short a time," explained the regional forestry officer of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Bangkok.

This is the case with all major flooding in large river systems in China such as Yangtze and Mekong.

When the ground becomes fully saturated, no amount of vegetation can prevent water runoff, the FAO official said. Landslides are also common under such conditions, especially on steep, geologically unstable sites.

"Although deep-rooted trees can help secure soil and can help avoid landslides in some areas, certainly not every landslide is a result of having cut trees from an area," said Dr. Durst, who once served as a US Peace Corps volunteer in Bohol.

The reality is that with increased population, there are more and more people living and building infrastructure in areas that are highly vulnerable, he added. "This is why it appears that disasters are now more frequent and serious than in the past," he pointed out.

"Unfortunately, politicians, officials, journalists, and foresters too often jump to conclusions about such events without proper study and analysis of the real issues and circumstances surrounding them," he concluded.





When this story was posted in December 2004, this was on the front page of PCOL:

Our debt to Bill Moyers Our debt to Bill Moyers
Former Peace Corps Deputy Director Bill Moyers leaves PBS next week to begin writing his memoir of Lyndon Baines Johnson. Read what Moyers says about journalism under fire, the value of a free press, and the yearning for democracy. "We have got to nurture the spirit of independent journalism in this country," he warns, "or we'll not save capitalism from its own excesses, and we'll not save democracy from its own inertia."

December 10, 2004: This Week's Top Stories December 10, 2004: This Week's Top Stories
Dodd says Rumsfeld's answer was unacceptable 9 Dec
RPCV Blake Willeford runs classic movie theatre 9 Dec
RPCV says education is key to curbing AIDS 9 Dec
RPCV Dannielle Tegeder opens exhibition 9 Dec
Shalala 1st Woman In Touchdown Club 9 Dec
"Today we have a new country" says Toledo 9 Dec
DDN wins Investigative Reporting Award 8 Dec
Celeste on Panel to study Colorado finances 8 Dec
RPCV leads Rotary Club medical team to Togo 6 Dec
Vasquez to speak at Hawaii, Wisconsin commencements 6 Dec
Tom Murphy warns Pittsburgh on budget abyss 2 Dec
Venezuela RPCV Martha Egan runs Pachamama imports 30 Nov
more top stories...

RPCV safe after Terrorist Attack RPCV safe after Terrorist Attack
RPCV Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley, the U.S. consul general in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia survived Monday's attack on the consulate without injury. Five consular employees and four others were killed. Abercrombie-Winstanley, the first woman to hold the position, has been an outspoken advocate of rights for Arab women and has met with Saudi reformers despite efforts by Saudi leaders to block the discussions.
Is Gaddi Leaving? Is Gaddi Leaving?
Rumors are swirling that Peace Corps Director Vasquez may be leaving the administration. We think Director Vasquez has been doing a good job and if he decides to stay to the end of the administration, he could possibly have the same sort of impact as a Loret Ruppe Miller. If Vasquez has decided to leave, then Bob Taft, Peter McPherson, Chris Shays, or Jody Olsen would be good candidates to run the agency. Latest: For the record, Peace Corps has no comment on the rumors.
The Birth of the Peace Corps The Birth of the Peace Corps
UMBC's Shriver Center and the Maryland Returned Volunteers hosted Scott Stossel, biographer of Sargent Shriver, who spoke on the Birth of the Peace Corps. This is the second annual Peace Corps History series - last year's speaker was Peace Corps Director Jack Vaughn.
Vote "Yes" on NPCA's bylaw changes Vote "Yes" on NPCA's bylaw changes
Take our new poll. NPCA members begin voting this week on bylaw changes to streamline NPCA's Board of Directors. NPCA Chair Ken Hill, the President's Forum and other RPCVs endorse the changes. Mail in your ballot or vote online (after Dec 1), then see on how RPCVs are voting.
Charges possible in 1976 PCV slaying Charges possible in 1976 PCV slaying
Congressman Norm Dicks has asked the U.S. attorney in Seattle to consider pursuing charges against Dennis Priven, the man accused of killing Peace Corps Volunteer Deborah Gardner on the South Pacific island of Tonga 28 years ago. Background on this story here and here.
Your vote makes a difference Your vote makes a difference
Make a difference on November 2 - Vote. Then take our RPCV exit poll. See how RPCV's are voting and take a look at the RPCV voter demographic. Finally leave a message on why you voted for John Kerry or for George Bush. Previous poll results here.

Read the stories and leave your comments.






Some postings on Peace Corps Online are provided to the individual members of this group without permission of the copyright owner for the non-profit purposes of criticism, comment, education, scholarship, and research under the "Fair Use" provisions of U.S. Government copyright laws and they may not be distributed further without permission of the copyright owner. Peace Corps Online does not vouch for the accuracy of the content of the postings, which is the sole responsibility of the copyright holder.

Story Source: Sun Star, Philippines

This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Philippines; Deforestation; Flooding

PCOL15378
64

.


Add a Message


This is a public posting area. Enter your username and password if you have an account. Otherwise, enter your full name as your username and leave the password blank. Your e-mail address is optional.
Username:  
Password:
E-mail: