Agricultural production is highly dependent on weather, climate and water availability and is adversely affected by the weather and climate-related disasters. Droughts and natural disasters such as floods can result in crop failures, food insecurity, famine, loss of property and life, mass migration and negative national economic growth. It may not be possible to prevent the occurrence of these natural disasters, but the resultant disastrous effects can be reduced considerably through proper planning and effective preparation. Vulnerability associated with the hazards of natural disasters can be controlled to some extent by accurate and timely prediction and by taking counter-measures to reduce their impacts on agriculture. This book based on an expert meeting held in Beijing, China should be of interest to all organizations involved in disasters reduction and mitigation of extreme events.

Describes disaster prevention and mitigation; comprehensive reviews followed by specific details aim at coping better with natural disasters and mitigating their effects

Impacts of Natural Disasters in Agriculture, Rangeland and Forestry: an Overview.- The Role of Disaster Preparedness in National Planning with Specific Reference to Droughts.- The Occurrence and Predictability of Extreme Events over the Southwest Pacific with Particular Reference to ENSO.- Accessibility of Database Information to Facilitate Early Detection of Extreme Events to Help Mitigate Their Impacts on Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.- Tools for Forecasting or Warning as well as Hazard Assessment to Reduce Impact of Natural Disasters on Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.- Agrometeorological Impact Assessment of Natural Disasters and Extreme Events and Agricultural Strategies Adopted in Areas with High Weather Risks.- Damage Assessment of Agrometeorological Relevance from Natural Disasters: Economic and Social Consequences.- Impacts of Tropical Cyclones on Chinese Lowland Agriculture and Coastal Fisheries.- Frost and High Temperature Injury in China.- Impacts of Sand Storms/Dust Storms on Agriculture.- Disaster Reduction Planning and Response: The Example of National Drought Policy in USA.- Agricultural Drought Policy and Practices in Australia.- Significance of Training, Education and Communication for Awareness of Potential Hazards in Managing Natural Disaster in Australia.- Agrometeorological Disaster Risk Management in China.- Degradation of Vegetation and Agricultural Productivity due to Natural Disasters and Land Use Strategies to Mitigate Their Impacts on Agriculture, Rangelands and Forestry.- Agricultural Drought Mitigation and Management of Sustained Agricultural Development in India.- Early Detection and Monitoring of Drought and Flood in China Using Remote Sensing and GIS.- The Decision of the Center of a Tropical Cyclone over China Coastal Waters Using a Doppler Radar.- Application of Remote Sensing and GIS for Analysis of Forest Fire Risk and Assessment of Forest Degradation.- Conclusions and Recommendations.