20/01/2005 – 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.
* Isabelle Louis is the Director of WWF
International's Asia-Pacific Programme
Reprinted from the International Herald
Tribune, 20 January 2005.
