Natural coastal ecosystems such as mangroves, coral reefs can contribute to security, protecting vulnerable local communities from disastrous impacts of natural phenomena such as severe storms and cyclones. These natural areas also provide food and building materials, especially to poor people.
Wetlands international works to protect and restore these threatened ecosystems.
Currently, many coastal zones in Africa and Asia are degraded. Shrimp farms in Asia have already cleared large tracts of the Asian mangrove and coral coasts. Urban development, pollution, over-harvesting of wood in coastal forests, dynamite fishing; they all take their toll.
The negative impacts to people's livelihoods only arise after the damage has been done. Coasts without coral or mangrove forest appear to be much more vulnerable to extreme weather than coasts protected by intact natural areas. Also fish catch drops considerably in coastal zones where coral or mangroves have been destroyed.
Wetlands International works in Africa and Asia to restore degraded coastal zones. Together with local communities, we replant mangroves and other coastal forests and clean up coral reefs.