Sustainable reconstruction vital in aftermath of tsunami
11 Jan 2005
In the aftermath of the tsunami disaster, WWF-Australia, is calling on governments to support the devastated communities by ensuring that efforts to rebuild their livelihoods are environmentally sustainable. The call comes as a UN conference on the vulnerability of small island developing states gets underway in Mauritius in the Indian Ocean - the geographical area severely impacted by the tsunami.
WWF-Australia CEO Greg Bourne said: "Healthy ecosystems can help save lives. Areas where coral reefs were healthy and the mangroves intact, were hit less badly by the tsunami than places where these natural buffers had been removed and replaced by prawn farms and poorly planned beachfront hotels."
For example, in the Maldives, it is estimated that the damage from the tsunami 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.
As humanitarian needs for food and shelter are met, WWF calls for long-term sustainable reconstruction efforts. They should capitalise on natural defence mechanisms, appropriate coastal zone planning, rehabilitation of habitats, and restoration of sustainable livelihoods.
"WWF is seeking to work with villages, in a participatory process to help them plan the reconstruction of their communities in ways that will reduce their vulnerability to future environmental threats. This will involve issues, such as where new schools or other buildings are placed, or where mangroves should be replanted as natural buffers," Mr Bourne said.
WWF is recommending that coastal developments are in the future not built within a safety zone from the high-tide mark. WWF calls for strong coastal zone management policies, planning and/or better implementation within the region. WWF supports steps to undertake the tsunami impact and natural disaster risk assessments. These are vital so that coastal ecosystems, such as coral reefs, mangroves, marshes, and forests that buffer the impact of tsunamis are appropriately rehabilitated and restored.
While WWF recognises the immediate need for timber for emergency housing and workplace needs, it is strongly advocating that timber for long-term reconstruction efforts should be harvested from responsibly managed forests. Indiscriminate logging could contribute towards other calamities in the future, such as landslides and flooding.
In the short term, it is also imperative that the fisheries sector is reconstructed responsibly as it is the primary source of livelihood for the thousands of communities affected by the tsunami. WWF warns that if devastated communities are not adequately resourced to regain immediate access to fishing, there is a real risk that opportunistic fishing fleets will move into the region, and further compound their current plight.
Since the tsunami, WWF International has established an emergency fund to enable affected WWF programs and projects and help local partners in rebuilding, infrastructure, re-establishing operations, undertaking assessments and reviving community based partner activities. As well as this emergency fund, WWF staff around the world have also raised money to go towards tsunami relief efforts.
For further information and to arrange interviews with WWF-Australia CEO Greg Bourne please contact:
WWF-Australia Press Office - Virginia Dew (02) 8202 1290 or email- vdew@wwf.org.au
or Jacqueline McArthur (02) 9281 5515 Mobile 0408 626 780
