Which action supports biodiversity during disaster risk reduction and response?

• A. Ignore habitat corridors to speed relief.
• B. Maintain ecological corridors and involve communities in conservation.
• C. Disregard threatened species in relief efforts.
• D. Prioritize only economic recovery.

Answer: (B)

Maintaining ecological corridors and involving communities in conservation shows how protecting biodiversity strengthens disaster risk reduction and response. Ecological corridors keep habitats connected, allowing wildlife to move and recolonize after a disturbance, which preserves species diversity and maintains ecosystem services like water regulation, flood control, and soil stabilization that communities rely on during and after disasters. When communities participate, conservation measures draw on local knowledge, gain trust, and align with people’s needs, making relief efforts more effective and sustainable while reducing potential conflicts over resources. In contrast, ignoring habitat corridors fragments landscapes and makes species more vulnerable to disturbances; disregarding threatened species risks irreversible loss and weakens future resilience; prioritizing only economic recovery can deplete natural capital that underpins long-term protection and livelihoods.