24/6/2005
Plans To Green Post-Tsunami Reconstruction In Aceh

Last December's Indian Ocean tsunami created millions of cubic metres of debris and destroyed critical environmental infrastructure, damaging ecosystems that provided both livelihood and protection for coastal communities in the Indonesian province of Aceh. Reconstruction is now beginning and the United Nations environmental agency, with the Indonesian environmental ministry and NGOs, participated in a three-day meeting last week to ensure that good environmental practice is integrated into the reconstruction plans.

According to its Governor, Azwar Abubakar, Aceh will be designated a Green Province with 40 percent of its area protected. This means that the need to obtain timber for reconstruction will not destroy the remaining forest areas. "We are bringing international solidarity on Aceh to a real and meaningful implementation of sustainable development," said Rachmat Witoelar, the Indonesian Environment Minister.

UNEP's Executive Director, Klaus Toepfer, said UNEP had learnt in graphic and horrific detail that the ecosystems, such as coral reefs, mangroves and seagrasses, which have been casually destroyed were not a luxury. "They are life savers capable of helping to defend our homes, our loved ones and our livelihoods from some of nature's more aggressive acts," he said. "It is therefore vital that during the re-construction of shattered coastlines and settlements, the environment is taken into account along with economic and social factors" He stressed that a healthy environment was also vital to achieving development goals and delivering a more stable, healthy and prosperous world.