Real Risk

While the tsunami drew the role of the environment in post-

disaster recovery into sharper focus, the introduction of

environmental concerns at this delicate time was not unproblem-

atic. Nevertheless, with newfound awareness that environmental

concerns can only be ignored at great peril, the UN Environment

Programme (UNEP) has been receiving a growing number of

requests for guidance and technical assistance. From the very

outset, environmental managers were confronted with a number of

significant challenges. There follows an account of UNEP’s

responses to meeting some of these challenges.

Assessing environmental impacts

In the immediate aftermath of the disaster, the joint UNEP/OCHA

Environment Unit provided the expertise to assess the immediate

environmental implications of the emergency. Based on the unit’s

findings, it became apparent that sustained engagement of envi-

ronmental experts was sorely needed. Even in the best of situations,

access to baseline information on environmental conditions is chal-

lenging. In Aceh, the situation was even more dire. Many public

servants, including environmental managers, tragically lost their

lives, while much laboratory equipment was irreparably damaged.

UNEP initiated a long process of strengthening the capacity of local

environmental authorities, providing equipment and supporting

the collection and management of baseline data. While much work

remains to be done, important contributions were made. The signif-

icant role of environmental managers and environmental

information in the earliest stages of disaster and recovery has

become more widely recognized and the importance of preparing

environmental managers, establishing good environmental gover-

nance before a disaster strikes and maintaining baseline

environmental data were all reinforced.

Clearing debris

The tsunami generated a daunting volume of waste, compounded

in Aceh by the severe damage caused by the earthquake. Early efforts

to move debris had unintended consequences. Often, opportunities

to sort the waste were lost and contaminated materials were irre-

trievably mixed with otherwise recyclable material. In addition, waste

was often removed to unsuitable locations resulting in expensive

remedial actions to remove waste from valuable agricultural fields

and sensitive ecosystems – some of these may never be cleared.

The situation was exacerbated by pre-existing waste manage-

ment problems in many of the affected areas, including

inadequate landfills, insufficient waste collection services and

lack of coherent waste management plans. UNEP worked closely

with governments in Indonesia, the Maldives, Sri Lanka and

later in Pakistan to provide training in the development of disas-

ter waste management plans. UNEP also supported successful

clean-up operations in the Maldives where 89 islands were

cleared of asbestos waste, thereby reducing significant health

risks to local populations and disaster managers. In addition,

UNEP developed a programme to sort and remove pharmaceu-

tical waste. In several countries, successful implementation of

clean-up projects, particularly for hazardous waste, relies heavily

on the availability of technically skilled implementation part-

ners. Greater effort is needed to build capacities in this regard,

in both governmental and non-governmental organizations.

Preventing avoidable environmental impacts in

reconstruction

The urgent need to provide temporary and, later, permanent

shelter placed a heavy burden on natural resources. The demand

for timber alone far exceeded the amount that could sustain-

ably be extracted from local forests. The implications for

protected areas that had long been under threat from illegal

logging are enormous.

Much of the impact on forest resources could have been and

still can be mitigated. Innovative programmes are underway to

establish guidelines and agreements with national forest agen-

cies. At the same time, in Aceh, a group of concerned

organizations has initiated a market for sustainable timber where

donors and construction agencies can meet with vendors of raw

materials to facilitate and streamline acquisition and, in prin-

ciple, promote the use of sustainable building materials.

It was soon realized that, in addition to timber needs, vast

quantities of fuel wood were being consumed for firing bricks.

Opportunities to promote energy-efficient kilns remain an

option to be explored. Substantial amounts of sand and gravel

have also been removed for the reconstruction efforts, and all

too often the excavation is uncontrolled, resulting in scarring

of the landscape and perverse incentives that discourage the use

of recyclable material. Among UNEP’s efforts to reduce the

impacts of the reconstruction on natural resources, model eco-

houses are being constructed and a manual on sustainable

construction practices has been prepared.

Recovering damaged ecosystems

In addition to loss of life and property, valuable coastal ecosys-

tems were damaged by the tsunami. While there is evidence

that coral reefs survived the initial wave remarkably well,

debris and sedimentation pose new concerns. Dune ecosys-

tems were also impacted – some in places eroded by the

waves; others in places ravaged in the scramble to extract sand

for reconstruction. Some communities have recognized the

protection offered by dunes, and have prohibited extraction

of sand from them.

Mangroves, which are among the most rapidly disappearing

of the world’s forest types, were not spared from further damage.

UNEP, in cooperation with partners such as the World

Conservation Union and Wetlands International, has under-

taken work in Indonesia, the Maldives and Sri Lanka to remove

debris and replant mangroves. Mangrove ecosystems not only

provide shoreline protection from storm surge and other coastal

hazards, but also serve as nurseries for many species of fish and

provide important resources to sustain local livelihoods. Several

early efforts at replanting were unsuccessful, and it was quickly

realized that mangrove restoration requires technical knowl-

edge, often locally available, to ensure that the appropriate sites

and species are selected and communities are involved in refor-

estation efforts. UNEP’s World Conservation Monitoring Centre

also prepared a review of the role of coral reefs and mangroves

in coastal protection, and organizations such as the Food and

Agricultural Organization are continuing their efforts to

strengthen our knowledge base on these important ecosystem

services.

Promoting strategic planning and policy support

Environmental policy and legislation also play a central role in

building back better. Policies put in place before a disaster

strikes can help to forestall the inevitable tensions that arise

when urgent decisions must be taken. Disregard for existing

legislation, such as those requiring environmental impact assess-

ments, can have long-term and adverse consequences for the

environment and local communities.

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