A Neglected Disaster: Landslides and Livelihoods in Central-Eastern Nepal

Building Resilience to Chronic Landslide Hazard Through Citizen Science

“…First, the seasonally occurring, shallow landslides remain largely underreported (Kervyn et al, 2015;Kirschbaum et al, 2015). The global and national landslide reporting databases suffer from regional bias, and marginal areas (rural provinces, grassland and forest covered localities) remain underrepresented for decades (Sudmeier-Rieux et al, 2013). Guzzetti et al, 2012 estimate that "landslide maps cover less than 1% of the slopes in the landmasses, and systematic information on the type, abundance, and distribution of landslides is lacking" (2012: 42).…”

Deforestation controls landslide susceptibility in Far-Western Nepal

“…Landslides in the HMR contribute to 30% of all economic losses from landslides worldwide (RED, 2020). Particularly in Nepal, landslides have caused more than 5,000 casualties over the last forty years and contributed to increased poverty, jeopardizing sustainable development in rural populations (Sudmeier-Rieux et al, 2013). Recently, land degradation has been considered as a factor that enhances landslide activity in areas of Western Nepal.…”

Resilience Among Nepali Widows After the Death of a Spouse: “That Was My Past and Now I Have to See My Present”

“…This ecological approach to resilience has highlighted how individual or personal assets, such as psychological or personality traits, interact with social resources-influenced by social relationships, community and societal contexts, and larger political or cultural structures-to facilitate individuals' responses, adaptation, or adjustments to stressors (Fletcher & Sarkar, 2013;Tol, Jordans, Reis, & de Jong, 2009;Ungar, 2011;Windle et al, 2011). An ecological approach has frequently been used in resilience research among children (Masten, 2007(Masten, , 2014Ungar, 2008) and studies of community resilience in the face of natural disasters, conflict, and violence (Somasundaram & Sivayokan, 2013;Sudmeier, Jaboyedoff, & Jaquet, 2013;Sudmeier-Rieux, 2014;Ungar, 2012). This approach is essential when exploring resilience in diverse settings, as cultural differences at the individual, interpersonal, community, and societal levels are intrinsically linked with how individuals understand resilience as well as which aspects are salient in each setting (Choowattanapakorn, Alex, Lundman, Norberg, & Nygren, 2010;Ungar, 2008Ungar, , 2011.…”