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  IUCN 15 Sep 06
Governments back sustainable coastal zone management to reduce disaster vulnerability in Indian Ocean countries

New York, 15 September (IUCN) - More than 60 representatives of governments and international organisations expressed strong support for the Mangroves for the Future Initiative at a meeting at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on 12 September.

The Initiative is a five-year action plan to improve coastal zone management and restore coastal ecosystems which in turn will reduce the vulnerability of coastal communities to natural disasters, and increase their development opportunities. It is led by the World Conservation Union (IUCN) as well as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and unites a growing number of partners from local communities to international organizations.

“Sri Lanka values its coastal ecosystems and we support the Mangroves for the Future Initiative whole-heartedly. We need to build back nature, restore our coastal forests and rehabilitate the coastal zone. The Mangroves for the Future Initiative will help with this. Sri Lanka is looking forward to working with IUCN, UNDP and other partners to implement the project’s activities,” said the Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations, Mr. Prasad Kariyawasam.

Representatives of Permanent Missions to the United Nations and international organizations expressed their support for the initiative at the meeting co-hosted by the Office of the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Tsunami Recovery (OSE) and the World Conservation Union.

The action plan for coastal zone management that was presented is the result of extensive discussions with more than 200 institutions, organisations and government representatives.

As a result, the Mangroves for the Future Initiative fills an important gap that is not currently addressed by ongoing post-tsunami recovery: the need to improve the long-term health of coastal ecosystems in the Indian Ocean region as key assets that support human well-being and security.

“Though the Mangroves for the Future Initiative we hope to help create a healthier, prosperous and secure future for all sections of coastal populations in Indian Ocean countries, where all ecosystems are conserved and managed sustainably,” said Ms. Aban Marker Kabraji, Regional Director for Asia for the World Conservation Union.

The five-year strategy is expected to be implemented in several phases.

The endorsements at the New York meeting have opened the door for the first phase that includes practical restoration as an initial step.

“The Initiative will improve the security and livelihoods of those in the tsunami-affected countries in the Indian Ocean region by conserving mangroves and other natural ecosystems. This comprehensive action plan moves beyond simply replanting mangroves and aims to strengthen local livelihoods, improve sustainable coastal zone development, and encourage collaboration between the many agencies that are already involved in natural resource conservation and post-tsunami reconstruction,”said the United Nations Secretary-General’s Deputy Special Envoy for Tsunami Recovery Eric P. Schwartz after the meeting.
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