Are Natural Disasters man-made?

Are Natural Disasters man-made?

Context: The article discusses the consequences of human actions on natural disasters.

What are Natural disasters?
• Natural disasters are events that cause great harm or damage to people, property, or the environment. They are caused by natural forces, such as weather, climate, earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides, and tsunamis.
• However, humans have played their part as well as is evident from recent natural hazards that has been witnessed around the world and in particularly India. 

What are the ways to mitigate the impact of Natural Disasters?

Floods
• Proper drainage systems, Flood plain zoning, early warning system, preparedness, flood insurance, constructing flood resistant infrastructure.
• For example, The Netherlands’ extensive network of dikes and levees to prevent river flooding.

Wildfires
• Firebreaks, Fire management, Local participation, Firefighting infrastructure.
• Australia’s “Prepare, Act and Survive” strategy to prevent from Bushfires.

Landslides
• Slope stabilization, reforestation, landslide monitoring systems, land-use planning, minimum or zero construction in landslide prone zones.

Drought
• Efficient water management, rainwater harvesting, drought-resistant crops, water conservation, drought monitoring and early warning, alternative livelihood opportunities for farmers.
• India’s Drought management framework is notable initiative.