Following the tsunami, Sri Lanka led a mass-drive to plant mangroves. However, noticing that only approximately three per cent of the planted saplings survived, the country changed tactics: from planting mangroves to nurturing them.
By creating the right conditions for mangroves to thrive, the plants started regenerating naturally.
“Mangroves are one of the planet’s most productive ecosystems. Sri Lanka’s unwavering commitment to their restoration is one of the best possible bargains to be made with nature. The country’s relentless work on perfecting the planting of mangroves shows how restoration must be a long-term investment. Sri Lanka’s experience is one which many other nations would do well to draw from.”
Inger Andersen, Executive Director of UN Environment Programme