The way in which risk maps are used in decision support processes for spatial planning at local scale is critical to helping decision makers in the definition of a prevention strategy to minimize risks. This paper presents a spatial decision support system that is developed to assist spatial planning by integrating the risk management component at municipal level. For the development of the RiskOTe tool, a semi-quantitative risk assessment model was used that assumes risk management to be comprehensive with respect to the type of hazard, vulnerability and risk minimization measures. In this paper, the components for the development of the spatial decision support system are identified, described and implemented using the municipality of Oeiras, in Portugal, as case study. The use of the system allowed the generation of multiple scenarios and outcomes. The results demonstrate that decision-making on the transformation of land uses by integrating risk analysis can be supported on a solid basis of information obtained from a spatial decision support system.

Beginning with the recent history of the early stages and development of the network of nationally protected lands, this paper aims to discuss the obstacles in Portuguese mainland society facing protected lands, such as Natural and National Parks. It aims further to demonstrate that there is no historical tradition of protecting special forests and lands, as a cultural and ethical behaviour pattern rooted in Portuguese society, and nor does Portugal have a significant vocal community of 'visionaries' advocating wildlife protection. This paper also discusses practices embedded in Portuguese cultural tradition, related to coping with nature and the conflict of relations between society and its ancient practices and beliefs towards protected wildlife. It argues that protected areas are always under pressure, in particular from campers, motor sports, invasive introduced species, forest fires and, on the coast, urbanisation and touristic developments. It proposes that natural parks in Portugal could be tools for increasing valuation of natural heritage, encouraging more ecological, respectful and responsible attitudes to nature, if participation in the design of protected areas and their management tools were more than a 'top-down' rhetoric.

On October 28, 2012, an earthquake occurred offshore Canada, with a magnitude Mw of 7.8, triggering a tsunami that propagated through the Pacific Ocean. The tsunami numerical model results show it would not be expected to generate widespread inundation on Hawaii. Yet, two hours after the earthquake, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre (PTWC) issued a tsunami warning to the state of Hawaii. Since the state was hit by several tsunamis in the past, regular siren exercises, tsunami hazard maps and other prevention measures are available for public use, revealing that residents are well prepared regarding tsunami evacuation procedures. Nevertheless, residents and tourists evacuated mostly by car, and because of that, heavy traffic was reported, showing that it was a non-viable option for evacuation. The tsunami caused minor damages on the coastline, and several car accidents were reported, with one fatality. In recent years, there has been a remarkable interest in tsunami impacts. However, if risk planners seem to be very knowledgeable about how to avoid or mitigate their potential harmful effects, they seem to disregard its integration with other sectors of human activity and other social factors.