Opportunities of ecosystem service assessments to inform the different phases of disaster risk management

Ecosystem service assessments (ESA) have proven to be powerful tools for integrating ecological knowledge and values of nature into relevant decision-making processes. Ecosystems and their services play an important role in disaster risk management (DRM), and ecosystem-based approaches are widely used as strategies for disaster risk reduction. As disaster risk becomes an increasing global concern, enhancing DRM efforts must become more comprehensive by integrating environmental considerations. While the knowledge generated by ESA offers significant potential for advancing DRM, it is not well understood how this information can be systematically integrated into DRM processes. Consequently, ESA are not consistently considered as instruments for DRM. This study addresses this gap by identifying how the current literature connects ESA results to the various phases of DRM: preparedness, response & relief, recovery & reconstruction, risk assessment & planning, mitigation & ongoing risk reduction, and prevention. A typology of opportunities for ESA to inform DRM phases is then developed based on evidence from the reviewed literature. This typology serves as the starting point of a new path towards more integration of ESA information in DRM, as the findings reveal that ESA results can significantly inform practical aspects of DRM, providing specific insights for different DRM phases. This study demonstrates that the benefits of ecosystems to society extend beyond delivering ecosystem services (ES), as knowledge about these ES can influence planning and decision-making processes in DRM. Therefore, this research calls for increased collaboration between the ESA and DRM fields to leverage the full potential of ESA to enhance DRM, fostering innovative solutions and comprehensive strategies to better protect communities and create resilient societies.