The Gambia - Integrated Urban, Coastal Resilience and Land Program : Policy Note - Resilient Land Use Planning

Resilient land use planning integrates multiple perspectives, including exposure to natural hazards and associated vulnerabilities and risks, to ensure that development can cope with disruptions and recover swiftly from disaster events. Resilient land use planning aims to accommodate multiple demands for land (e.g., housing, economic development, social infrastructure) while ensuring that people are not endangered by disaster events. It integrates the social, economic, and ecological dimensions of Disaster Risk Management (DRM) and Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) in its considerations. Therefore, knowledge on the exposure to natural hazards and climate change-induced dynamics needs to be considered in planning decisions. Resilient land use planning includes in particular measures to: (i) control and adapt development on the plot level to withstand disaster events and impacts of climate change, (ii) direct urban development to low-risk areas, and (iii) secure areas to provide risk reduction and climate services (e.g., flood retention, prevent hazard emergence) and keep them free of development. Promoting environmental sustainability, climate resilient communities and appropriate land use is one of seven cross-cutting areas identified in the The Gambia National Development Plan (2018-2021) calling for a strengthened policy environment and tools for appropriate land use planning and management