The guidelines come at a time when there is mounting pressure to see delivery of the vast sums of aid promised by the international community. Millions of people around the world donated money to the victims of the Indian Ocean tsunami that killed more than 300,000 people on 26 December 2004.
Yet exactly four months after the event, major reconstruction has still not begun in Aceh where thousands of people remain displaced and homeless. WWF believes the framework it has developed will strengthen both communities and the environment.
The call for imported sustainable timber for Aceh is the first phase of a reconstruction effort designed to minimize the impacts that large-scale rebuilding would have on the province's already damaged environment. A report by WWF and Indonesian policy research institution Greenomics estimates that one million cubic metres of timber will be needed to rebuild Aceh over the next five years.
"Aceh faces the likelihood of further humanitarian and ecological disasters unless timber for reconstruction is immediately brought into the devastated Indonesian province," said Mubariq Ahmad, Executive Director of WWF-Indonesia. "If the amount of timber needed for the reconstruction of Aceh was sourced locally, the result would be massive deforestation, which would lead to further floods and landslides and the potential for further tragedy for the Indonesian people."
According to WWF, this would also threaten Indonesia's beleaguered wildlife, including species such as the Sumatran tiger, rhino and elephant, and the region's populations of orang-utans.
WWF's Green Reconstruction Policy Guidelines parallel the Master Plan for Aceh's Reconstruction, released by Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, which also calls for the province to be rebuilt along sustainable guidelines.
"These guidelines will help provide natural defence barriers against future tsunamis and extreme weather events," said Mubariq Ahmad. "The extensive conversion of coastal mangroves to shrimp ponds had already depleted Aceh's natural defence systems before the tsunami hit, compounding its impact. It is vital that we don't make the same mistakes of the past. We need to rebuild Aceh in a sustainable and safe way for the future well-being of Aceh's people."
Subscribe
Subscribe to IEMA's newsletters to receive timely articles, expert opinions, event announcements, and much more, directly in your inbox.
Posted on 4th May 2005
Latest Posts
-
Labour's plan for economic growth must mean green growth – but there is a green skills gap looming
- 5th July 2024 -
As Labour plans to “slash red tape” for economic growth, YouGov poll finds 3 in 5 people want to increase public involvement in planning system
- 28th June 2024 -
Medtronic agrees partnership with IEMA to accelerate skills and standards in sustainability
- 21st June 2024 -
Landmark climate impact ruling for fossil fuel projects, cites IEMA guidance
- 20th June 2024 -
IEMA sets out 18 policy asks for the next Government
- 3rd June 2024 -
New global alliance formed for 25,000 environment and sustainability professionals
- 29th May 2024