NGOs and their roles during post-earthquake reconstruction

Abstract

This paper aims to discuss the role of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in China, during the Wenchuan earthquake and the participation of NGOs in natural resource management after the disaster. We focus on NGOs working in the area of environmental protection and examine their roles, performance, and coordination with the government. In addition, we observe their long-term planning for post-disaster reconstruction, and analyze their management and their role in work related to ecological restoration after the disaster. This analysis illustrates that the collaboration of NGOs in earthquake relief and post-earthquake reconstruction contributes greater flexibility to public resource management, thus illustrating the benefits of a complementary relationship in disaster management between the government and the non-governmental sector. © 2011 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.