ID: 59
Presenting Author: Federico Scodelaro
Status: pending
Case study on integrating disaster risk and climate resilience into Amazon river port design, enhancing sustainability and safety under the IDB’s environmental framework.
In the ecologically sensitive and flood-prone landscapes of the Peruvian Amazon, river transportation is essential to maintain connectivity and support local economies. Within the framework of a Program to Support the Sustainability of the River Transport Model in the Amazon, an Environmental and Social Assessment (EAS) was conducted, covering a total of 30 dock construction projects (including small piers, passenger port terminals, and cargo docks) in three important Amazon basins in the Loreto Department. This paper presents a case study on the integration of disaster risk and climate resilience in the assessment, planning, and design of small-scale port infrastructure in high-risk contexts. Using national risk platforms (SIGRID, CENEPRED) and climate data from SENAMHI, the EAS applied a risk assessment focused on the main natural hazards: river floods, debris-laden floods, droughts intensified by climate change, and riverbank erosion. The findings guided the definition of structural and non-structural reduction measures in the ESMP aimed at increasing resilience, including platforms adapted to fluctuating flows, flexible mooring systems, early warning systems, and community emergency protocols. Aligned with the IDB's Environmental and Social Policy Framework and its disaster risk assessment methodology, the paper provides practical lessons for environmental professionals. It illustrates how risk-based planning strengthens the sustainability, safety and climate adaptability of river infrastructure in environments with limited data and high variability.
Environmental Specialist with 18+ years of experience in 28 countries worldwide. Environmental Lead at PlanEHS, firm focused on environmental and social impact assessments for infrastructure projects.
Coauthor 1: Jimena Perez
Coauthor 2: Adriana Zambrano
Coauthor 3: Alejandra Catacoli
Coauthor 4: Julio Rojas Lara