Isabelle Louis International Herald Tribune Thursday, January 20, 2005
After the tsunami GLAND, Switzerland While the Indian Ocean tsunami's destruction of ecological resources is of a different order from the appalling loss of human life, its significance should not be underestimated as reconstruction gets under way. Of particular concern is the significant damage that appears to have been done to coral reefs and mangrove forests throughout the region. . WWF International, the global environmental organization, estimates that coral reefs provide some $9 billion annually in economic benefits, yet this does not even begin to include the vital role they play in protecting vulnerable coastal regions from several kinds of natural disasters. Coral reefs act as natural breakwaters, providing a physical barrier that reduces the force of a wave before it reaches shore, while mangrove forests act as natural shock absorbers, also soaking up destructive wave energy and buffering against coastal erosion. . Reports indicate that places with intact coral reefs and mangroves were less impacted by the tsunami than those where the reefs had been damaged or mangroves had been cut down - in many cases, to make way for poorly planned beachfront hotels and resorts. From India to Indonesia, we have heard stories from fishermen who took shelter behind mangrove forests and survived. . In Malaysia, Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi has said that his country's mangroves should be left untouched by development and replanted in damaged areas following the realization that mangroves spared some of Malaysia's coastal areas. In the Maldives, it is estimated that tsunami damage could have been much worse if the government's policy of protecting the network of coral reefs that shield the islands from the open sea had not been so diligent. . Other countries should be equally diligent and not make the mistakes of the past when it comes to reconstruction and planning policies. Lessons from hurricanes in the Caribbean clearly point to the value of using intact natural ecosystems as a means of mitigating the social and ecological costs of natural disasters. In the Asia-Pacific region, however, there has been extensive conversion of natural coastal habitats for industry, aquaculture, agriculture and tourism. . In many places, coral reefs have been suffering extensive damage from destructive fishing practices, climate change and deterioration of water quality. This destruction not only makes coastal areas more vulnerable to storm damage and land erosion, but also threatens the survival of marine species living in this unique habitat. Coral reefs are a major spawning ground for fish, many of the hardest-hit communities' only source of food and income. . With an urgent need to rebuild livelihoods and infrastructures across many parts of the Indian Ocean, "green" reconstruction is needed to encourage the various roles and long-term values that intact coastal habitats can play. It will also be crucial that coastal development policies are effectively implemented during this period. . In Thailand, volunteer divers are already removing heavy debris - from fallen trees to refrigerators - that is suffocating and crushing the fragile coral reef ecosystem. Even tourists have expressed interest in returning to the devastated areas on diving holidays to help with the restoration effort. . As new hotels and resorts are sure to be built and rebuilt to accommodate returning holidaymakers, developers also need to comply with more stringent environmental and coastal planning, including natural disaster risk assessments. As it turned out, many hotels that were built too close to the high tide mark were badly affected by the tsunami, whereas hotels like the Marriott in Phuket, which was built and managed according to environmental guidelines, suffered substantially less damage and loss of life. . WWF recognizes that urgent human needs like food and shelter in the hardest-hit areas are the present priority. But priorities for sustainable reconstruction efforts also need to be addressed as communities begin to rebuild. An important lesson of the tsunami is that one of the best defenses against natural disasters is nature itself. Green reconstruction should start now. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------ Yahoo! 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