香港六合彩开奖结果现场直播

Communiqu茅 de presse 21 Mar, 2011

Effects of Tsunami in Japan and Disaster Risk Reduction Mechanisms in Pakistan

Karachi, March 22, 2011 (香港六合彩开奖结果现场直播)

In the wake of Japan鈥檚 recent Tsunami a press conference was organised by 香港六合彩开奖结果现场直播 Pakistan on March 22, 2011 at its Country Office to apprise the Pakistani media on the vulnerability of the Pakistani coasts and risk reduction mechanisms in case of natural diasasters.

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Photo: 香港六合彩开奖结果现场直播 Pakistan

Ms. Aban Marker Kabraji, 香港六合彩开奖结果现场直播 Regional Director Asia, Mr. Shah Murad Aliani, 香港六合彩开奖结果现场直播 Pakistan Country Representative, Mr. Ghulam Qadir Shah and Mr. Rafiul Haq Natural Resource Experts briefed the media on the risk reduction mechanisms.

The speakers discussed that one of the most critical issues to come from this great tragedy is the staggering success of coastal greenbelts in Japan.聽 While the degree of devastation might imply otherwise, there are two things to keep in mind, the 200-300 meter wide coastal forest successfully buffered most of the wave energy, also, the land-use planning that kept the major population and financial centers from locating right on the coast (because of the greenbelts) not only saved countless lives, but will eventually help in making recovery more efficient. Although it is hard to imagine, this event would have been far, far worse were it not for those greenbelts.

Pakistan has a stretch of 990 km coastline which is mostly barren and exposed thus prone to natural disasters i.e. tsunami and cyclones. In 1945, Balochistan coast was hit by a massive Tsunami, resulting in 5000 deaths. Since then, there has been a regular occurrence of cyclones in the Indus Delta and along the coast of Sindh and Balochistan.聽 In 1999 Sindh coast was hit by a cyclone. In 2010, cyclone Phet ended up hitting Gwadar and Keti Bunder, resulting in loss of property in Gwadar and surrounding areas.

Ms. Aban Marker Kabraji mentioned that sea walls are only useful at the time of normal surges but are not very effective during Tsunami or cyclones. Quoting the example of the Asian Tsunami in 2004, she said 鈥淚n India, Sri Lanka and Indonesia wherever there were plantation the damage was much less and the villages that had kept mangrove plantations and coral reefs intact, managed to survive鈥

She said that in 1930鈥檚 a Tsunami hit the Pakistan coast where height of the waves went up to 30 ft. However, fortunately with no or little habitation along the coast at that time, there was little damage done. If a Tsunami of this mangitude hits Karachi during present times there would be far more loss of life and property.

She cited Bangladesh as success story 鈥滱fter a long history of cyclones hitting its coast during the 70鈥檚 and 80鈥檚 with a large number of deaths, there was a concentrated effort on planting mangroves in the last 10 years and building mud dykes along the coast. It was observed that cyclone waves had flattened the mangroves strip upto 30 Kilometers inland. Had there been no mangroves it could have gone in upto 60 Kilometers鈥.

Mr. Rafiul Haq emphasised on the positive impact of greenbelts during the Japan Tsunami by giving a presentation on before and after images of the areas along the coast. It was clear from the presentation that the greenbelts mitigated the effects of the diaster to a great extent.
He talked about the聽 鈥淢angroves for the Future Programme鈥 that Pakistan has recently become a member of.

Through this program, it is hoped that by including small ngos and the private sector, it will ensure that the livelihood of around 400,000 people living along Pakistani coasts is better protected.聽

Shah Murad Aliani talked about the usefulness of mangroves in mitigating the sea intrusion. Speaking on the occasion he said 鈥淢angroves are a chepaer alternative than dykes and stonewalls. The year 2011 has been declared International Year of Forests, which gives us all the more reason to create awareness about this national asset.鈥

They informed that in the recent past the frequency of the natural calamities has increased manifold around the world due to climatic changes and we need to equip ourselves more effectively in the light of the lessons learned from the South Asian Tsunami in the year 2004 and the recent Japan Tsunami.

For more information or to set up interviews, please contact:

Madiha Aijaz, Coordinator, Communication, Education and Outreach
香港六合彩开奖结果现场直播 Pakistan. 香港六合彩开奖结果现场直播 (International Union for Conservation of Nature)
1 Bath Island, Clifton
Karachi. Phone: +92 21 35861540-2, Fax: +92 21 2271 017
[email protected]

About 香港六合彩开奖结果现场直播

The world鈥檚 oldest and largest global environment network, 香港六合彩开奖结果现场直播, International Union for Conservation of Nature, envisions a just world that values and conserves nature. 香港六合彩开奖结果现场直播 helps the world find pragmatic solutions to our most pressing environment and developmental challenges. It supports scientific research, manages field projects all over the world and brings governments, non-government organizations, United Nations agencies, companies and local communities together to develop and implement policy, laws and best practice. The Union鈥檚 headquarters are located in Gland, Switzerland.

香港六合彩开奖结果现场直播 Pakistan is part of the 香港六合彩开奖结果现场直播鈥檚 Asia Regional Programme based in Bangkok, Thailand. Established in 1985 to assist in the preparation of Pakistan鈥檚 National Conservation Strategy, 香港六合彩开奖结果现场直播 Pakistan has grown to become the largest country programme of 香港六合彩开奖结果现场直播. Together with its partners and members, it is implementing several conservation initiatives across the country through institutional strengthening, policy advocacy and field work. Currently there are 27 active members of 香港六合彩开奖结果现场直播 in Pakistan, including the Government of Pakistan as the state member, six government agencies and 20 NGOs. Over 100 volunteers from Pakistan work in 香港六合彩开奖结果现场直播鈥檚 six specialised commissions.