Your Excellencies,
13/01/2005 - WWF, the global conservation
organization, has a mission to ensure that
human societies live in harmony with nature.
The recent Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami
are a reminder of the vulnerability of coastal
communities and small island nations in the
face of unexpected natural disasters and of
the tragic human and social costs, as well
as ecological and economic impacts of such
events.
WWF extends our deepest sympathies to those
who have lost families and friends and to
those who are now in the process of rebuilding
their lives. Clearly the priority today is
on providing humanitarian relief. As the reconstruction
phase begins, we should draw on the lessons
to be learned from this event.
WWF takes to heart Mauritius Prime Minister
Paul Berenger’s call at the opening ceremony
to integrate environmental resilience in sustainable
development strategies in the face of increasingly
destructive impacts of global warming, sea
level rise, and tropical storms.
Natural disasters cannot be prevented. However
there may be ways to minimize the threat such
disasters pose to coastal communities and
to mitigate the social and ecological vulnerability
of high-risk areas. Education programmes and
early warning systems will significantly reduce
the number of human casualties. However, it
will only be through the continued enhancement
of natural protection features and careful
coastal and land-use planning that the economic
and social costs of such disasters can be
kept to a minimum.
Tropical coastal and island ecosystems have
sophisticated natural protective mechanisms
to help them survive the surging waters of
tsunamis and extreme weather. Coral reefs
are natural breakwaters, providing a physical
barrier that allows waves to dissipate the
bulk of their destructive energy before reaching
the shore. Mangroves act as natural shock
absorbers, again soaking up destructive wave
energy and reducing coastal erosion. Systems
of marshes, tidal inlets and mangrove channels
allow a means for such waters to drain quickly.
Lessons from violent storms across the world’s
oceans clearly point to the value of maintaining
intact natural ecosystems as a means of mitigating
the social and ecological costs of natural
disasters.
However, in many regions there has been extensive
conversion of coastal habitats due to industry,
urban development, coastal migration, aquaculture,
agriculture, and tourism development. Although
difficult to quantify, their protective value
indicates large incentives for Governments
to take a precautionary approach in retaining
these protective habitats as a means of minimizing
the social, economic, and ecological costs
of natural disasters.
With an urgent need to rebuild communities,
livelihoods and infrastructure across many
islands in the Indian Ocean, and the likelihood
of more frequent and intense storms increasing
with global warming, now is the time to incorporate
the various roles and long-term value of intact
coastal habitats in planning and reconstruction
efforts.
We, thus, encourage SIDS Governments to adopt
integrated coastal management approaches that
have risk assessments, protection and (where
required) rehabilitation of natural ecosystems
and disaster mitigation as a high priority.
This will minimize the economic impact of
future natural disasters and would provide
valuable lessons and a model for other countries.
Please refer to our website (www.panda.org/coral)
for recommendations on actions and policies
for a “green reconstruction” in the aftermath
of the tsunami, and future coastal development
management policies, planning and implementation.
WWF is poised to hear from the Mauritius
International Meeting, SIDS Governments, communities,
and local partners how our expertise and resource
base can be most effectively and collaboratively
mobilized toward the needs created by such
devastating natural forces, and the opportunities
to work together in developing and implementing
short and longer term mitigation strategies.
Yours sincerely,
Dr Claude Martin, Director General
WWF International
