wild places | wild happenings | wild news
make a difference for our wild places

home | links | search the site
  all articles latest | past | articles by topics | search wildnews
wild news on wildsingapore
  WWF 15 Dec 05
Green coast project aims to restore coastal areas in Asia

Four international organizations, including WWF, have given the green light to a natural restoration project of the coastal areas in Asia.

The goal of the project — developed in response to the tsunami that hit the Asian region on 26 December 2004 — is to rehabilitate the ecosystems in these areas and, as a result, to guarantee the local population income from natural resources and a safe living environment.

In places where mangroves, coastal forests and coral reefs were still intact, the effects were less disastrous.

Through this project, the organizations want to work with governments and the local population to achieve sound coastal development.

“Experience has taught us that poorly considered coastal development led to increased damage from the tsunami," said Marie-José Vervest from Wetlands International. "In the past, many mangrove forests were cut down to make way for shrimp farms or hotels and houses on the seafront. It is important that the same mistakes are not repeated. The key focus of the project is to enable safety, nature conservation and economic development to progress hand in hand.”

Restoration will focus on the countries damaged by the tsunami, including Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Malaysia. In addition to community-based initiatives such as planting mangroves, cleaning up coral reefs, protecting fishing grounds and restoring coastal wetlands, the project also focuses on advising and influencing local governments and construction companies to be cautious when it comes to building near the seafront.

“We work from a vision that will benefit both the natural environment and the coastal population," added Vervest. "If natural resources are restored, it will generate income. A healthy coral reef, for instance, can attract eco-tourism. But just like mangrove forests, the coral reef also serves as a breeding ground for fish and is therefore vitally important for the local fishing industry. Careful reconstruction and planning is needed to ensure that people can benefit from the services provided by these coastal ecosystems. The lesson is not to build near the seafront but more inland.”

The four organizations — WWF, Wetlands International, ENDS and IUCN — have received €4 million through NOVIB/Oxfam Nederland to implement the project. The funds that were donated by the Dutch public after the tsunami disaster.

The first phase of the Green Coast Project runs to December 2006. The aim is to obtain international financing for the continuation of the project.
links
Related articles on Tsunami and the Environment
about the site | email ria
  News articles are reproduced for non-profit educational purposes.
 

website©ria tan 2003 www.wildsingapore.com