Skip to content
Natural Environment Research Council
Grants on the Web - Return to homepage Logo

Details of Award

NERC Reference : NE/J020052/1

Strengthening Resilience in Volcanic Areas (STREVA)

Grant Award

Principal Investigator:
Professor J Barclay, University of East Anglia, Environmental Sciences
Co-Investigator:
Professor N Adger, University of Exeter, Geography
Co-Investigator:
Dr RA Herd, University of East Anglia, Environmental Sciences
Co-Investigator:
Professor R Few, University of East Anglia, International Development
Co-Investigator:
Mr P Simmons, University of East Anglia, Environmental Sciences
Science Area:
Earth
Overall Classification:
Earth
ENRIs:
Environmental Risks and Hazards
Science Topics:
Human Geography
Area & Development Studies
Geohazards
Sediment/Sedimentary Processes
Volcanic Processes
Abstract:
STREVA will bring together researchers from universities, research institutes and volcano observatories, to explore methods for reducing the negative consequences of volcanic activity on communities. We will work both with communities facing volcanic threats and with those responsible for monitoring, preparing for and responding to those threats. Our main partners are volcano monitoring agencies and observatories in Colombia, the Caribbean and Ecuador, and through them, disaster managers and disaster researchers throughout the region, as well as residents of communities at risk. We will use a number of techniques to build links between the project and the wider community, including workshops, running scenario exercises, and using social media to report our results. Our aim, by working collaboratively across different disciplines, is to develop and apply a risk assessment framework that will generate better plans to reduce the negative consequences of volcanic activity on people and assets. Volcanic risk is a complex problem, which we shall understand by investigating a number of volcanoes, at-risk communities, emergencies and policy responses across the region. These case studies will help us to identify common issues in volcanic disaster risk and ultimately develop regional risk assessment processes. These will be crucial for long-term planning to reduce exposure to volcanic hazards. The countries in which we will work are all middle income and face multiple volcanic threats, often in close proximity to large towns and cities. The main focus will be on six volcanic sites across the Lesser Antilles, Ecuador and Colombia. We will begin the project by reviewing the secondary literature on three well monitored and active volcanoes, to analyse what has already been done to understand and reduce risk to the surrounding population. Through in-depth empirical research in these volcanic areas we shall begin to develop, test and apply our new risk assessment framework and methods for application. We will then take these lessons and apply them to three high-risk volcanoes where monitoring and understanding is less advanced. STREVA's work will generate improvements in: (i) methods for forecasting the start of eruptions and changes in activity during eruption; (ii) prediction of areas at-risk (the "footprint") from different volcanic hazards; (iii) understanding of the factors that make people and their assets more vulnerable to volcanic threats; (iv) understanding of institutional constraints and capacities and how to improve incentives for risk reduction By the end of the project, our new knowledge will help us to measure volcanic risk more accurately and monitor how that risk is changing. The practical results will be a strengthening in the capacity of stakeholders at different scales (staff in volcano observatories, local and national governments and NGOs) to produce risk assessments for high-risk volcanoes and use them to improve preparedness and response to volcanic emergencies and build resilience in the surrounding communities through long-term planning. In adopting this approach, STREVA will have real impacts in real places, and will significantly advance the fields of volcanic risk analysis and disaster risk reduction.
Period of Award:
1 Jul 2012 - 31 Mar 2019
Value:
£884,350 Lead Split Award
Authorised funds only
NERC Reference:
NE/J020052/1
Grant Stage:
Completed
Scheme:
Directed (Research Programmes)
Grant Status:
Closed
Programme:
IRNH

This grant award has a total value of £884,350  

top of page


FDAB - Financial Details (Award breakdown by headings)

DI - Other CostsException - EquipmentIndirect - Indirect CostsException - Other CostsDA - InvestigatorsDI - StaffDA - Estate CostsDA - Other Directly AllocatedDI - T&S
£81,064£45,000£194,820£60,000£89,493£172,053£53,919£4,293£183,709

If you need further help, please read the user guide.