Regresar

Concluding remarks

Abstract:

This chapter provides a summary of the conclusions drawn from all previous chapters, discusses its implications and provides policy recommendations. Limitations are stated as well as directions for further research suggested. The chapter emphasises that on the whole, the results obtained have confirmed the usefulness of our conceptual and methodological tools to assess the risk due to environmental deterioration to which the population of a given territory is susceptible. In the three country-case studies - Spain, Argentina and Bolivia - the comparison of spatial patterns and indicators in two different scales of analysis (regional and 'census unit') has identified significant geographic differences in terms of the distribution of vulnerability and hazardousness. In other words, irrespective of their degree of economic development, the three countries present scenarios of high vulnerability and/or hazardousness. This analysis constitutes the first step towards the management of risk and may help in the design of preventive measures. However, solving these problems implies that decision making entities must be capable of acting on the causes of risk.