Today's society becomes ever more rapidly vulnerable to natural disasters due to the concentration
of populations in mega-cities. Additionally, changes in the global environment threaten us with the possibility of severe typhoons, rising sea levels, droughts, among others.
Considering these rapid changes of ambient conditions, vulnerability has increased due to
growing urban populations, environmental degradation, and a lack of planning, land management
and preparedness. Environmental disasters in many cases are effected by human usage of natural resources. They take place especially because of the negative impact of the over-exploitation of natural resources. Spatial planning and land management provide various tools to prevent natural hazards. The prevention of catastrophes in general is a consideration of spatial planning and land management on the regional and local level. Therefore a more active role of planning and land management is necessary.