Building disaster prevention capacity in a continental scale country: the trajectory and experience of the Geological Survey of Brazil

Abstract

The goal of this paper is to share the trajectory and current results of the training program on disaster risk reduction from the Geological Survey of Brazil (GSB) as well as the challenges and perspectives for future development. The risks faced by a society are determined by the hazards presented by nature and by the cultural norms of how society decides to deal with them. Historically Brazil has had spontaneous urban growth, which led to the occupation of naturally hazardous areas. The National Plan of Protection and Civil Defense Act of 2012 led to an increase in responsibility of the central government to support local governments in disaster prevention. In 2007 the SGB established its training program for disaster prevention capacity building, and a decade and a half later around 3500 people have received entry level education in risk management. Due to the restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the SGB implemented distance learning courses, with significant impact.