Document Type : Research Paper
Author
Master of Natural Geography
Abstract
Natural disasters are considered as one of the main obstacles on the way of sustainable development. Their occurrence always blocks the way of economic, social and civil developments. Higher severity of disasters will afflict national development plans with more trouble. Many civilizations and human societies have been destroyed by natural disasters. Human has added to frequency and intensity of disasters by irrational exploitation and weak management of utilization of natural resources. A review of the history of natural disasters will indicate this fact.
Unbridled increase of population is one of the barriers on the way of correct utilization of natural resources, so that population growth brings about increase in need for foodstuff (development of agriculture and livestock breeding), residences (development of urban areas), educational, sanitary and other facilities which in turn lead to unreasonable and uncontrolled exploitation of natural wealth. Consequently, undesirable results such as natural disasters take place and endanger medium-term and long-term planning. Therefore, it is necessary in sustainable development that these two matters be assessed and controlled.