The World Wildlife Fund is calling on world governments to support the communities devastated by the tsunami by ensuring that rebuilding efforts are environmentally sustainable. Healthy ecosystems such as coral reefs, intact mangroves, marshes and forests can more easily take the brunt of tsunamis and mitigate damage to local oceanfront areas. “Poorly planned coastal development has compounded the impact of the tsunami,” said the head of the WWF in Indonesia, “and it is vital that we don’t make the mistakes of the past. We need to build in a sustainable and safe way.”

Last modified 2005-12-07 01:12 PM