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Almost everyone agrees that the tsunami in SE Asia was a natural phenomenon. Unlike many environmental disasters, it was not the fault of mankind. After all, nothing that we do causes earthquakes. Or causes earthquakes at sea to form giant waves - tsunamis.

But now there has been time for reflection, people have begun to realise that the horrifying death toll was partly the fault of humans. While we could not prevent the tsunami itself, the huge toll was to a considerable extent the result of greed, short-sightedness and stupidity in destroying coastal ecosystems. See article below for explanation.

The United Nations has blamed tourism development for worsening the effects of the recent tsunami, acccording to a report released this week.

The report, undertaken by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), revealed that in areas where mangrove forests or reefs had been destroyed to make room for tourist developments the tsunami had a more devastating impact than it would have had otherwise.

"Severe damage on the coast was observed where coral mining in the sea had been rampant. There were signs of absorbed impact and less damage in locations with healthier vegetation and less disturbed ecosystems," said the report.

In Sri Lanka, the Yala and Bundal National Parks escaped damage because vegetated coastal sand dunes stopped the tsunami, which was able to enter only where the dune line was broken by river outlets.

Naturetrek, a British tour operator, is still taking tourists to both parks on birdwatching and natural history tours.

Reefs that had been ravaged by mining and fishing by dynamite were also ineffective in protecting coastline. In one of the case studies in Sri Lanka, the reef in Dutch Bay is reported to have been almost entirely destroyed by the tsunami.

"If coral hadn't been destroyed to make hotels, mangroves removed to make 'perfect beaches' and hotels been built so close to the shoreline, the death may well have lower", said Tricia Barnett, director of Tourism Concern, which campaigns for sustainable tourism.

Ms Barnett is confident that any rebuilding along the affected coastlines will now be better planned. "Local people recognise the opportunities that this catastrophe has opened up for everyone to benefit from sustainable tourism," she said.

Isabelle Louis, director of the Worldwide Fund for Nature's Asia Pacific programme, which helped compile the UNRP report, said that rebuilding should be as environmentally friendly as possible. WWF is helping to ensure supplies of sustainable timber for reconstruction and looking at improving waste disposal and energy provision and providing opportunities for local people.

Paul Miles, Telegraph, 26 Feb 05

Mar 2005

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