Outline for a disaster reduction programme for livestock in Central America

ABSTRACT

Central America has a high predisposition to natural disasters. For example, in the last 10 years nearly 40.000 people have died as a result of earthquakes, floods and hurricanes in Central America, at an estimated cost to these countries in excess of US$8.5 billon.Catastrophic events olso have a great impact on agriculture. In 1994, the direct losses in grain production in Central America as a result of droughts alone were estimated to be approximately US$44 million. The estimated value of the Central American livestock agriculture is US$3.3 billon, and employs nearly 10