New York, 15 September (IUCN) - More than 60 representatives of governments and international organisations expressed strong support for the Mangroves for the Future Initiative at a meeting at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on 12 September.

The Initiative is a five-year action plan to improve coastal zone management and restore coastal ecosystems which in turn will reduce the vulnerability of coastal communities to natural disasters, and increase their development opportunities. It is led by the World Conservation Union (IUCN) as well as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and unites a growing number of partners from local communities to international organizations.

“Sri Lanka values its coastal ecosystems and we support the Mangroves for the Future Initiative whole-heartedly.  We need to build back nature, restore our coastal forests and rehabilitate the coastal zone. The Mangroves for the Future Initiative will help with this.  Sri Lanka is looking forward to working with IUCN, UNDP and other partners to implement the project’s activities,” said the Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations, Mr. Prasad Kariyawasam.

Representatives of Permanent Missions to the United Nations and international organizations expressed their support for the initiative at the meeting co-hosted by the Office of the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Tsunami Recovery (OSE) and the World Conservation Union.

The action plan for coastal zone management that was presented is the result of extensive discussions with more than 200 institutions, organisations and government representatives. As a result, the Mangroves for the Future Initiative fills an important gap that is not currently addressed by ongoing post-tsunami recovery: the need to improve the long-term health of coastal ecosystems in the Indian Ocean region as key assets that support human well-being and security.

“Though the Mangroves for the Future Initiative we hope to help create a healthier, prosperous and secure future for all sections of coastal populations in Indian Ocean countries, where all ecosystems are conserved and managed sustainably,” said Ms. Aban Marker Kabraji, Regional Director for Asia for the World Conservation Union.

The five-year strategy is expected to be implemented in several phases. The endorsements at the New York meeting have opened the door for the first phase that includes practical restoration as an initial step..

“The Initiative will improve the security and livelihoods of those in the tsunami-affected countries in the Indian Ocean region by conserving mangroves and other natural ecosystems. This comprehensive action plan moves beyond simply replanting mangroves and aims to strengthen local livelihoods, improve sustainable coastal zone development, and encourage collaboration between the many agencies that are already involved in natural resource conservation and post-tsunami reconstruction,”said the United Nations Secretary-General’s Deputy Special Envoy for Tsunami Recovery Eric P. Schwartz after the meeting.

-ENDS-

Notes to editors

 For more information and photos, please contact:

• Denise Jeanmonod, Asia Communications Coordinator, The World Conservation Union (IUCN)
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  Tel. + 66 2 662 4061, ext. 108, Mobile: +66 (0)1 925 0726, E-mail: deniseiucnt.org

• David Singh, Office of the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Tsunami Recovery
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  Tel. +1 212 906 6904, Mobile +1 917 345 4374, E-mail: david.singhundp.org

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About the World Conservation Union (IUCN)

Created in 1948, the World Conservation Union (IUCN) brings together 81 States, 120 government agencies, 800 plus NGOs, and some 10,000 scientists and experts from 181 countries in a unique worldwide partnership. The Union’s mission is to influence, encourage and assist societies throughout the world to conserve the integrity and diversity of nature and to ensure that any use of natural resources is equitable and ecologically sustainable.

The Union is the world's largest environmental knowledge network and has helped over 75 countries to prepare and implement national conservation and biodiversity strategies. The Union is a multicultural, multilingual organization with 1,000 staff located in 62 countries. Its headquarters are in Gland, Switzerland.

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About the Office of United nations Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Tsunami Recovery

The UN Secretary-General appointed former United States President Bill Clinton as Special Envoy for Tsunami Recovery in February 2005.  President Clinton’s role since then has been to keep the world's attention on the tsunami operations; support coordination efforts at the country and global levels; promote transparency and accountability measures that will ensure resources are used well and for the reasons intended, as well as retain the engagement of the millions of "investors" and; champion a new kind of recovery that not only restores what existed previously, but goes beyond, seizing the moral, political, managerial, and financial opportunities the crisis has offered governments to set communities on a better and safer development path.

For more information, visit www.tsunamispecialenvoy.org