Quantifying human vulnerability in rural areas: case study of Tutova Hills (Eastern Romania)

I C Stângă,A Grozavu

doi:10.5194/nhess-12-1987-2012

I C Stângă, A Grozavu

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-12-1987-2012

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Abstract

Abstract. This paper aims to assess the vulnerability at regional level, the model and the proposed indicators being explicitly intended for an essentially rural region, in this case–Tutova Hills (Eastern Romania). Five categories of variables were taken into account to define the vulnerability components: rural habitat, demographic features, agriculture, environmental quality and emergency situations. For each one, five variables were analyzed and ranked based on the level of determination or subordination. In order to ensure the flexibility of the model and to avoid the criteria duplication in assessing vulnerability, only a single indicator of each category was retained and included in analysis: total number of inhabitants, dependency ratio, weight of arable land on slope categories, weight of land under forestry and road accessibility of villages. The selected indicators were mathematically processed in order to maximize their relevance and to unitary express the results in the spread 0–1. Also, values of each indicator were grouped into four classes, corresponding to the level of vulnerability: low, medium, high and very high. A general index was obtained through the integration of vulnerability factors in an equation based on the geometric mean. Spatial analysis was based on features of the MicroImages TNTmips 7.3. software, which allow the vulnerability mapping. This approach argues and states that vulnerability assessment through indicator-based methods can be made only according to the level and scale of analysis and related to natural or human conditions of a region.

Highlights

The concept of vulnerability has become increasingly exploited in risk assessment, global change research and environmental and development studies and a conceptual framework has been progressively developed to be applicable for various systems or systemic elements, at multiple scales of analysis and in relation to different hazards (Taubenbock et al, 2008)
This paper aims at the development of an integrative vulnerability assessment, using a multicriteria analysis and risk assessment method to be applied at regional level for quantifying the general vulnerability of rural communities in Tutova Hills (Eastern Romania), by identifying and integrating specific indicators, which are compatible with the level of analysis and are suitable for mapping
There are some general factors that may influence the degree of vulnerability in any frame and to any level of analysis, this paper shows that vulnerability assessment can be made only by identifying and integrating indicators compatible with the analysis level and the geographic, economic and social features of a certain region

Summary

Introduction

The concept of vulnerability has become increasingly exploited in risk assessment, global change research and environmental and development studies and a conceptual framework has been progressively developed to be applicable for various systems or systemic elements, at multiple scales of analysis and in relation to different hazards (Taubenbock et al, 2008). The great number of definitions and points of view seems to be nearly a normal fact, given the disciplinary context or the existence of many interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary approaches Whether they refer to applied hazard research (Crozier and Glade, 2005; Fuchs, 2009; Hufschmidt and Glade, 2010; Kuhlicke, 2010; Papathoma-Kohle et al, 2012; Fuchs et al, 2012; etc.), climate and global environmental changes (Liverman, 1990; Kasperson et al, 1990; Dow, 1992; Turner II et al, 2003b; O’Brien et al, 2004; Adger, 2006; Fussel and Klein, 2006; Fussel, 2007; etc.) or development and sustainability context (Chambers, 1989; Watts and Bohle, 1993; Bohle et al, 1994; Cannon, 1994; Turner II et al, 2003a, b; etc.), these definitions have only one common element: the role granted in different ways to receptors in order to explain different impact of hazards (Fuchs et al, 2011).

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