Hydrological regime of remote catchments with extreme gradients under accelerated change: the Baker basin in Patagonia

The Baker basin (27 000 km2) is located in one of the most pristine and remote areas of the planet. Its hydrological regime is poised to undergo dramatic changes in the near future due to hydropower development and climate change. The basin contains the second-largest lake in South America, and part of a major icefield. This study documents the natural baseline of the Baker River basin, discusses the main hydrological modes and analyses the potential for sustainable management. Annual precipitation varies several-fold from the eastern Patagonian steppes to the North Patagonian Icefield. The westernmost sub-basins are strongly governed by glacier melt with a peak discharge in the austral summer (January–March). The easternmost sub-basins have a much more seasonal response governed by quicker snowmelt in spring (November–December), while they exhibit low flows typical for semi-arid regions during summer and autumn. Topography, vegetation and wetlands may also influence streamflow. The strong spatio-temporal gradients and variability highlight the need for further monitoring, particularly in the headwaters, especially given the severe changes these basins are expected to undergo. The great diversity of hydrological controls and climate change pose significant challenges for hydrological prediction and management

Incremental housing in Villa Verde, Chile: A view through the Sendai Framework lens

The development of the Villa Verde settlement in Chile coincided with the 2010 earthquake and tsunami that devastated the city of Constitucion. A private-sector and government-subsidized program developed 484 houses specifically designed to double in size via the efforts of the residents and according to their needs. Low levels of governance have since led to the emergence of several unauthorized self-built extensions that have both reduced livability and increased fire risk. This chapter reveals the benefits and drawbacks of the adopted housing strategy using the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030 as a basis for analysis. It shows that the project's architects and developers have been successfully helping to create a dynamic settlement with their “half-house” strategy. Yet, the related development has not been able to effectively deal with another type of risk, namely wildfires, which were overlooked in the design process