[Kabar-indonesia] Clinton champions mangrove forest recovery efforts

[Joyo at aol.com]

Former U.S. President Clinton champions mangrove forest
recovery efforts

By TRACEE HERBAUGH Associated Press Writer

UNITED NATIONS, November 1 (AP) -- Former U.S. President
Bill Clinton lent his humanitarian heart to yet another
cause: protecting the mangrove forests along the coastlines
of countries affected by the 2004 tsunami, which he has made
a special cause.

Clinton, who is the U.N. special envoy for tsunami recovery,
participated in a meeting Tuesday focused on mangrove
rehabilitation with donors and ambassadors from India,
Indonesia, the Maldives, Seychelles, Sri Lanka and Thailand
-- some of the 11 countries affected by the tsunami, which
left more than 213,000 dead.

"Environmental recovery is a critical component of the
tsunami reconstruction process, a clear example of 'building
back better' and I hope the model for future efforts in
other parts of the world," Clinton said. "I think it's very
important to know how much good this will do in preventing
future disasters."

Clinton has visited several of the countries that were
inflicted with damage caused by the tsunami, including
Indonesia, which suffered the worst, with a death toll of
more than 131,000 people and a half-million left homeless.

The World Conservation Union and the U.N. Development
Program launched a US$62 million (euro48.83 million)
mangrove conservation plan last month called "Mangroves for
the Future." The five-year project will fund ecosystem
restoration and sustainable development in the countries
affected by the tsunami.

"It is a powerful concept, by protecting the environment,
communities are able to promote economic well-being, secure
their futures and protect themselves and their families,"
Clinton said.

Shortly after the 2004 tsunami, planting mangroves became
the rage among non-governmental organizations who saw it as
a way to promote the environment and employ locals. Despite
tens of thousands of seedlings that were planted in coastal
areas, however, experts say mangroves have been on a steady
decline.

According to Achim Steiner, director for the U.N.
Environment Program, mangrove reforestation is "not a simple
business" like many would believe it to be.

He said in the last 25 years almost 12 percent of mangroves
have been lost due to the changing coastal environment
caused by pollution and the release of raw sewage into
coastal zones.

Organizations must look for "suitable areas," where there is
an economic need for mangrove forests, as well as local
interest in preserving them, Steiner said.
"Even though cameras and attention has moved on from the
tsunami, people are still in the early phase of rebuilding
their lives," he said. "This project is part of the longer
term response ... this is the beginning of a very exciting
initiative that is going to make a difference to thousands
of miles of coastal zone and territory in the Indian Ocean
and millions of people."

At Tuesday's meeting, Clinton received concrete expressions
of new financial support totaling US$10 million (euro7.88
million) for the mangrove project from Norway, Sweden,
Germany, Australia, the UNDP and the UN Environment
Programme.

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Joyo Indonesia News Service
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