Lush forest protecting a village from a storm.

Nature's Shield: How Trees and Forests Can Save Us From Disasters

Avery Sinclair in Climate & Environment August 2025 • 3 min read.

"Discover the crucial role of forests in disaster risk reduction and mitigation, and how they can protect communities and ecosystems."

Disasters, as defined by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, represent severe disruptions to communities, leading to widespread losses that exceed local coping capacities. The increasing frequency and intensity of both natural and man-made disasters have resulted in significant casualties and property damage worldwide.

In 2015 alone, global disasters led to 22,773 deaths and affected 98.6 million people, with economic damages totaling USD 66.5 billion. Common natural disasters include floods, storms, droughts, landslides, earthquakes, tsunamis, wildfires, and extreme temperatures, highlighting the urgent need for effective disaster risk reduction strategies.

Nepal is highly vulnerable to various disasters, including earthquakes, floods, landslides, fires, avalanches, and glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs). Annually, these disasters cause approximately 500 deaths and numerous injuries, with substantial property losses. The 2015 earthquake, one of the world's most significant natural disasters that year, caused immense human and economic impact, underscoring the critical importance of proactive disaster management.

The Role of Trees and Forests in Disaster Risk Reduction

Lush forest protecting a village from a storm.

Forests and trees play a vital role in mitigating the impact of natural disasters. They offer a natural defense against floods, landslides, and tsunamis by acting as physical barriers. This protection helps to prevent loss of life, property damage, and disruption of livelihoods. The conservation and management of forests provides a cost-effective and locally available means to protect communities from disasters.

The benefits of forests and trees in disaster risk reduction are multi-faceted:

Physical Barrier: Forests act as a natural defense against floods, landslides, and tsunamis.
Soil Stabilization: Tree roots reduce soil erosion and land degradation.
Water Management: Forests enhance water storage and help prevent droughts.
Building Material: Forests provide essential materials for shelter and infrastructure after disasters.

Moreover, forests serve as crucial sources of building materials for shelters and infrastructure during recovery and rehabilitation phases. They provide convenient and locally accessible materials for constructing shelters for affected households and communities. Uprooted or damaged trees can be repurposed to build temporary and permanent housing, emphasizing the pivotal role of forests in post-disaster recovery.

Call to Action: Protecting Our Forests for a Safer Future

To fully leverage the protective capabilities of trees and forests, it is essential to integrate forest management into broader disaster risk reduction strategies. This includes promoting community-based forest management, ensuring emergency provisions for wood supply during disasters, and developing comprehensive emergency response plans within the forestry sector. Further research is needed to fully understand the role and effectiveness of trees and forests in preventing and mitigating various types of disasters, ensuring a safer and more resilient future for communities worldwide.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.3126/banko.v26i1.15495, Alternate LINK

Title: Role Of Trees And Forests In Disaster Risk Reduction And Mitigation

Subject: Nature and Landscape Conservation

Journal: Banko Janakari

Publisher: Nepal Journals Online (JOL)

Authors: Prakash Mathema

Published: 2016-08-23

Everything You Need To Know

How do forests and trees specifically contribute to disaster risk reduction, beyond just being 'natural defenses'?

Forests and trees provide a natural defense by acting as physical barriers against floods, landslides, and tsunamis. Tree roots help reduce soil erosion and land degradation. Forests enhance water storage, aiding in drought prevention. Additionally, forests offer crucial building materials for shelter and infrastructure following disasters, and can be locally sourced.

How does the definition of 'disasters' by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction relate to the role forests play in mitigating their impact?

The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction defines disasters as severe disruptions to communities, leading to widespread losses that exceed local coping capacities. These events result in significant casualties and property damage. Forests play a role in minimizing these disruptions by providing essential resources and protection, which aids in the recovery and resilience of affected communities. While the definition highlights the severity of disasters, incorporating forest management and conservation into broader disaster risk reduction strategies can greatly improve a community's capacity to cope and recover.

What does it mean to integrate forest management into broader disaster risk reduction strategies, and what specific actions are involved?

Integrating forest management into broader disaster risk reduction strategies involves promoting community-based forest management to ensure local involvement and sustainability. It also requires planning emergency provisions for wood supply during disasters for immediate shelter and infrastructure needs. Comprehensive emergency response plans within the forestry sector are essential to coordinate efforts and ensure the effective use of forest resources. These efforts help to maximize the protective capabilities of trees and forests, contributing to safer and more resilient communities.

What types of disasters are common in a place like Nepal, and how can forests specifically help in mitigating their impact?

In Nepal, common disasters include earthquakes, floods, landslides, fires, avalanches, and glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs). The presence of forests and trees can help mitigate the impact of some of these disasters, such as floods and landslides, by providing soil stabilization and acting as physical barriers. However, forests alone cannot prevent earthquakes or GLOFs, highlighting the need for comprehensive disaster risk reduction strategies that combine natural defenses with structural and engineering measures.

What aspects of forest management and its role in disaster risk reduction are not fully explored, and why are they important?

While the text highlights the protective functions and building material benefits of forests, it doesn't delve into specific forest management techniques like selective logging, reforestation, or agroforestry, which can enhance disaster resilience. These practices can improve the health and stability of forests, making them more effective in preventing soil erosion, regulating water flow, and providing sustainable resources for communities affected by disasters. Also, it doesn't fully explore the economic benefits of forests. It could also cover biodiversity preservation and climate regulation, which are indirectly linked to community resilience against disasters.