Shalini Dhyani, Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Uttar Pradesh, India

We are truly grateful to the All India Disaster Mitigation Institute (AIDMI) for inviting us to reflect on “Why Southasiadisasters.net is Important.” It is an honour to be part of a publication that, for two decades, has connected thousands of readers, writers, and practitioners across South Asia and beyond.

When our article, “Urban Growth and the Role of Nature-based Solutions in Shaping a Climate-Resilient Nagpur,”  appeared in Issue 224, it felt like joining something bigger than a publication (Pimpalshende & Dhyani, 2025). The conceptual Model underpinning our work (as illustrated in Figure 1) clearly maps the link between development, ecosystem loss and rising urban risks and outlines the pathway to resilience through Nature-based Solutions (NbS). For us, Southasiadisasters.net was the ideal platform to translate this complex knowledge (the risk framework) into insights (the NbS model) that empower policymakers and communities with informed care.

During writing, we realised how the publication brings together voices that are rarely heard in academic or policy spaces: street vendors, local officials, students, and scientists, all contributing their perspectives on resilience. Southasiadisasters.net is not just a research publication; it is a living record of how people in South Asia adapt, rebuild, and reimagine resilience. Its simplicity and sincerity make it stand out. Every issue reads like a dialogue, not a report.

We often refer to the publication in our research on climate adaptation to understand how local communities develop and apply their own adaptive practices. Its concise articles translate complex climate ideas into actionable insights. What we value most is the publication’s clarity and warm tone-each article feels informed, meant to inspire real-world action.

As the publication celebrates its 225th issue, we see it as a collective diary of how South Asia has learned, adapted, and grown stronger in the face of disasters. It connects readers, researchers, and practitioners who believe that resilience grows from informed communities. We feel privileged to contribute to this journey and look forward to being part of its next decade.

Looking ahead, we hope to see more young contributors and city-level case studies, encouraging cross-learning and accessibility. Through this experience, we understood that resilience rarely begins within four walls; it often takes root in communities, where people and nature adapt together through small, consistent acts of care, whether it is care for the planet, for others, or for oneself. g

References:

1. Dhyani, S., Lahoti, S., Khare, S., Pujari, P., & Verma, P. (2018). Ecosystem-based Disaster Risk Reduction approaches (EbDRR) as a prerequisite for inclusive urban transformation of Nagpur City, India. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 32, 95–105. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2018.01.018

2. Dhyani, S., Majumdar, R., & Santhanam, H. (2021). Scaling-up Nature-Based Solutions for Mainstreaming Resilience in Indian Cities. In M. Mukherjee & R. Shaw (Eds.), Ecosystem-Based Disaster and Climate Resilience: Integration of Blue-Green Infrastructure in Sustainable Development (pp. 279–306). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-4815-1_12
3. Pimpalshende, P., & Dhyani, S. (2025). Urban Growth and the Role of Nature-based Solutions in Shaping a Climate-Resilient Nagpur. The All India Disaster Mitigation Institute. https://aidmi.org/blog/urban-growth-and-the-role-of-nature-based-solutions-in-shaping-a-climate-resilient-nagpur/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this piece are those of the author/s and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of AIDMI.