National Disaster Recovery Monitoring and Evaluation Database

Environmental Domain

View other domains on the Recovery Program Design Support page.

Encompasses the natural resources of the community. The "effects of disaster on the natural environment are considered in terms of the ecosystem components: air, water, land and soil (and organic matter, plants and animals)"

Community Recovery Handbook p. 114

Outcome: The community's exposure to environmental health risks and public health risks is minimised

Activities:

Asbestos safety inspections and clean-up
Clean-up, hazard inspection, and waste removal
Environmental clean-up and remediation
Grants or loans to businesses - to assist with costs of recovery from the impacts of the disaster
Grants to households - to assist with costs of clean-up, repair or rebuilding
Information provided to community about potential environmental health risks and how to address them
Insect surveillance and control to reduce risk of disease (dengue, etc)
Training for community members participating in clean-up and recovery (e.g. chainsaw safety)

Indicators:

Catchment area that has been polluted as a result of the emergency or disaster event that make the water unsafe for any form of life, as reported by relevant authority.
Crops produced are below permissible level of radioactivity
Days with unhealthy air quality (air quality below an agreed threshold) in a specified period
Environmental radiation concentrations in water, sediment and suspended sediment
Incidence of diseases related to the disaster or post-disaster conditions (e.g. water-borne or insect-borne disease)
People receiving medical care from exposure to environmental health risks
Pollution of air, water or land, by pollutant type and impact
Stated ability to manage environmental health risks

Outcome: The natural environment operates to maintain healthy biodiversity and ecosystems

Activities:

Community revegetation events in the affected area
Environment agency site visits to assess natural recovery needs and provide technical advice
Environmental clean-up and remediation
Environmental monitoring to track recovery and identify further issues for attention
Information and events for land holders regarding regeneration of natural environment
Inspect and assess environmental damage and options for remediation
Local Natural Resources Management Board plant give-away
Plan for environmental recovery and resilience
Volunteer programs for environmental clean-up and remediation

Indicators:

Area remediated (revegetation, weed removal, erosion control, etc)
Coastal wetlands lost
Coastline that is unusable or environmentally degraded as a result of the emergency or disaster event resulting in the requirement for intervention.
Concentration of chloride in the water (indicator of saltwater encroachment and salinity)
Current number of native species and ongoing monitoring of species
Erosion in areas affected by the disaster
Food stock availability for local wildlife
Groundwater salinity
Hectares of National Park Area that is unusable or environmentally degraded as a result of the emergency or disaster event and requires an intervention.
Marine pollution which has occurred as a result of the emergency or disaster event, as reported by the relevant State/Territory or Australian Government authority.
Natural habitat supports healthy levels of biodiversity
Pollution of air, water or land, by pollutant type and impact
Proportion of affected stream flow gauges repaired
Sediment yields across watersheds