Latin American perspective of geomorphologic disasters

LATRUBESSE, E. M.

Geomorphology of Natural Hazards and Human Exacerbated Disasters in Latin America

Elsevier

Año: 2008; p. 445 - 448

The Latin American region has often been treated as a single entity because of its relative uniformity in language and its predominant historical connection to the Spanish and Portuguese empires. It is commonly referred to as Latin America and is considered a relatively cohesive territorial unit in the social, political, and economic sciences—a concept that has gradually penetrated into disaster analysis as well. This perspective has resulted in too broad a synthesis and an oversimplification of diverse issues concerning Latin American countries. Catastrophes such as Hurricane Mitch , Nevado del Ruiz in Colombia, Vargas-La Guaira in Venezuela, the Pisco earthquake, the floods in Santa Fe, Argentina, the desertification of Patagonia and the landslides and floods in the eastern coast of Brazil among others disasters, demonstrate the extreme natural processes and the irregular social and economic development seen across South America. A geomorphic perspective on natural disasters that focuses on their prevention and mitigation is still in the infancy stage in Latin American countries. There is a strong need to recognize the role of geomorphology and geomorphologists in Latin America. In the middle of this negative scenario, geomorphologists continue to await the call to contribute their expertise to society and play a more relevant role in their countries.