School of Natural Resources National Drought Mitigation Center Mission: To lessen societal vulnerability to drought by promoting planning and the adoption of appropriate risk management techniques. University of Nebraska Lincoln R The Cycle of Disaster Management 1
NDMC: Evolution 1980, Research program initiated with a focus on climate impacts and drought climatology/understanding the hazard 1986, Change of emphasis from drought assessment and impacts to drought management, planning, policy 1989, International Drought Information Center 1992, USDA study: Drought Mitigation 1995, Creation of NDMC NDMC Program Objectives Improve the science of drought monitoring, impact assessment, mitigation and preparedness Build awareness of drought and its impacts on society and the environment Build awareness of how human actions affect our vulnerability to drought Focus the attention of policy makers on the importance of drought policy and planning in the wise stewardship of natural resources RESEARCH, OUTREACH, AND TRAINING 2
Components: Drought Risk Management (natural event or meteorological drought) (social factors) Population Land use Environmental awareness Technology Drought Monitoring U.S. Drought Monitor National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS) NIDIS Executive Council Working groups/pilots Use of remote sensing to monitor drought through assessments of vegetation stress Drought impact reporter building the nation s first drought impact data base 3
4
Drought Mitigation Identification of appropriate drought mitigation measures at local, state, and regional levels Development of standardized economic impact assessment methodologies Preparation of hazard mitigation case studies determine the relationship between $$ invested in mitigation and impacts avoided (1:4) 5
Drought Preparedness 10-step drought planning process Applied to state and tribal government levels Currently 38 U.S. states with drought plans Risk assessment guide Who and what is at risk and why Drought planning workshops, short courses, conferences More than 20 workshops in the past 5 years 10-15 workshops planned for next 3 years Drought plans exist at: River basin scale Municipal scale Tribal lands 6
Response Mitigation Proactive interventions to reduce risk/impacts Increasing need for more reliable seasonal forecasts/outlooks Increasing need for timely, reliable climate/water supply assessments Increasing need for higher resolution analysis for policy/decision support NDMC Funding USDA, primary funding source through Special grants, USDA Interagency Drought Council, and USDA s Risk Management Agency (RMA) Other funding sources NOAA NASA NSF Dept. of Interior (Bureau of Reclamation, US Geological Survey, Bureau of Indian Affairs) International (WMO, FAO, NATO, UNEP, UNDP, ISDR) 7
NDMC Organizational Chart NDMC Scientists and Technical Staff 9 scientists 12 technical staff Interdisciplinary (climate, water, economics, GIS, remote sensing, computer support, etc.) 8
National, Regional, and International Initiatives Canadian Drought Assessment Project NIDIS US National Drought Conference North American Drought Monitor MEDROPLAN ISDR Drought Risk Reduction Framework National Drought Observatory- Morocco UNCCD Drought Management Center SE Europe NEMEDCA Network FAO Drought Assessment Project National Drought Strategies Iran, Jordan and Syria UNDP Drylands Development Center- Drought Policy Forum WMO Drought Monitoring and Preparedness Focus International Drought Disaster Reduction Center Australian National Drought Policy National Ag Monitoring System US/Australia Drought Monitoring Workshop Where we re headed: Droughts Drought projections for IPCC s A1B scenario Percentage change in average duration of longest dry period, 30-year average for 2071-2100 compared to that for 1961-1990. 9
Summary NDMC has been a catalyst for change. NDMC has effectively networked with the science and policy communities to build awareness of drought risk management. NDMC has helped many states and other levels of government move to a higher level of preparedness. NDMC s involvement and leadership at the international level has had an important impact on drought monitoring, mitigation, planning, and policy. School of Natural Resources Questions? University of Nebraska Lincoln R School of Natural Resources snr.unl.edu National Drought Mitigation Center drought.unl.edu dwilhite2@unl.edu 10