Water

Debris flows resulting from flashfloods are increasingly becoming major threats in high mountain regions due to permafrost melting triggered by global warming. Debris flows impact on the safety of settlements along roads and on alluvial cones in valleys, threatening lives and displacing entire communities. In recent years, Asia has experienced an increase in the impact and number of these disasters, particularly in the Philippines, Thailand, and Nepal.

This PDA tested a new, easy-to-transfer, and feasible technology developed in Japan for coping with flashfloods and debris flows disasters in developing countries. Called the Debris-flow Brake, the simple and low-cost technology was tested on the mountain slopes along Kennon Road, Baguio City in northern Philippines.

• Protection of human lives, livelihood activities, and economic, social and cultural assets from the threat of devastating debris flows in mountainous regions
• Increased awareness on the risks from debris flows and on the importance of safety preparedness against debris flows disasters
• Capacity building and training of local practitioners and local implementing agencies in road management
• Protection of roads and networks for transportation, water supply, and information transmission from destruction or disruption due to debris flow disasters

• Final Report (December 2008) [ PDF ]
• Proposal (February 2008) [ PDF ]