MIT LogoLong Term Recovery and Environmental Remediation
Revitalizing the Economy

The aspects of the economy that will be of focus in our recovery plan are agriculture, cattle/livestock, tourism, fisheries, and livelihood.

Agriculture

The main hindrance on agriculture is the quality of the soil. Farming cannot be revived if the land is not suitable. To restore the quality of the land, there are several options, such as desalination or flooding. An alternative to restoring the quality of the land is to use the salinized fields to an advantage through salt water farming.

Removing salt from the soil is called desalination. Desalination works by the way of reverse osmosis and distillation. The water needs to be pumped through filters in order to remove the particles and then the water is distilled to obtain fresh water. This method seems like a quick and easy way, but it comes at a cost. Desalination plants are expensive because of the high financing and energy costs (California Coastal Commission).

Another method we can use would be to flush the land with tons of water. This option is obviously ruled out for the fact that water will be too expensive to ship huge amounts of water and dump them on lands. Water is rationed and money and time could be put to better uses.

 If there are monetary restraints, an optimal way is to let nature take its course. There is not much to do on our part to help speed up the process of desalination without overspending and wasting our efforts.

For example, should the northwestern coast of Peru or Micronesia be damaged by a tsunami, the El Nino effect should help speed up the desalination process of the land. (Waylen, PR; Tapley, TD, 1990) In Micronesia receives plenty of rainfall and especially in the state of Pohnpei, more than 40 rivers are the result of such excess water. There is heavy rainfall in the center of the island. (Lander and Kroshopanah 2004)

There is an option to make use of the salt water to the nation’s advantage. There have been studies on a new type of farming called “saltwater farming” in which salt water replaces fresh water. The main crop is salicornia, a halophyte or salt-tolerant plant. There have already been studies done on the farming of this crop in other coastal areas such as Puerto Penasco, Sonora, Mexico, (Glenn, Edward P., O’Leary, James W, Watson, Carolyn, Thompson, T. Lewis, 1991) Salicornia does not need to be genetically altered to grow in salt water. It is a natural protein that contains 26 to 33 percent oil, 31 percent protein, and is low in fiber and ash. This oil can replace the soybean oil in check diets. Salicornia can even be turned into animal fodder, particleboard, and firebricks.

Salt water farming is novel in today’s age. There exists one commercial salt water farm in the world. (Greening the Desert 2005) It is the project of Carl Hodges, an atmospheric scientist of the University of Arizona. His project is introducing salt water farming to the arid region of Eritrea in Africa, a land devastated by revolution and drought. He created a cyclical farm in which the saltwater made a loop into the land through one end and out through another. This closed system was self-sustaining. It began with mangroves on the outer edge, to form a habitat for fish and shrimp. The waste produced fertilized the salicornia fields that the water would flow through and then filter back out into the sea.

There have been other studies as to what are options are. Barley is one of the most halophytic annual grains. The yields from this plant were decent, in the sense that they did not all die, like the experiments carried out with wheat. (Hollaender 1979) Some other crops that can grow in brackish water for irrigation are tomatoes, onions, melons, and asparagus. A green plant, atriplex triangularis, is similar like spinach in appearance and nutrition. There exists a number of plants that can grow in coastal areas using seawater and these options should be explored when there is only seawater available.

We must realize that most crops cannot tolerate living in the harsh condition of sea water. Rice is a big example that plays a major role in the diets of the inhabitants. Rice will not grow in sea water. To do so, they need to be genetically altered which is an option that the public may not like. We are not going to tread the waters of the controversies of GMO’s, but it should be considered.

Another important aspect to address for the farmers in tsunami torn areas is the tools that they need. They need to be given supplies by either the government or some non-governmental organization. As time progresses, plots of land can be sponsored and this will allow farmers to begin planting and harvesting and resume normal life.


Cattle/Livestock

It is assumed that most to all of cattle/livestock that was once living in (post-tsunami) devastated areas would be obliterated.  To repopulate ranches and other relevant places with lost livestock, livestock would be transported from other parts of Peru (and other neighboring countries, if necessary), primarily by truck.  The livestock would be voluntarily given up by other ranches, or would be paid for, as determined by the “central agency”.

It is important that animals of all age groups (and, of course, both sexes) be transported for optimal growth, for sociological reasons.


Tourism

Tourism can be revived by offering confidence to the tourists and restoring areas back to good condition.

Thailand is seeking to assure its tourists that the areas are safe to visit again. They have already installed 62 early tsunami warning towers along the coastlines and practice frequent tsunami drills. (MediaCorp NewsAsia 2005) In the same way, we can install warning towers and practice drills, if they are not already in place. Showing and being prepared for another disaster will restore the confidence into the tourist that was lost.

Besides offering assurance, the actual tourist sites need to be remedied. In Peru, however, the main tourist sites are located usually in Cuzco, near the Inca ruins. That site is too far inland (closer to the Amazon) to be of consideration. The main locations of consideration are Lima, Callao, and Trujillo, due their proximity to the coast lines. In these areas, the main attraction are the beaches, so in order to attract the tourists back, cleaning up the beaches of the debris from the disaster is a sensible plan of action. A prominent component of Micronesia’s tourism is given to diving. Micronesia has to offer these famous wreckage dives: the Tokai Maru and the SMS Cormoran, two sunken battleships from World War I and World War II. There are other diving sites in every state, but those two are by far the most attractive to tourists. Besides the beaches, the underwater sea level needs to be cleaned up.

The Maldives Project by the Red Cross is in effect after the tsunami that occurred on the 26th of December, 2005. (Asia Earthquake & Tsunami 2005) The Red Cross is working in coalition with the local government to clear the land and start up a proper waste management program. When the beaches are clean in both Peru and Micronesia, we can expect that tourism rates will increase.

Campaigns to increase tourism in the nation can also be implemented. In northern Sumatra, conventions have been attracted there, promoting local tourism. Head of the North Sumatra Provincial Tourism Office, Henry Hutabarat, has urged to create more four and five star hotels to attract visitors to the area. (Antara 2005) In Indonesia, plans of new events and celebrations are concocted. The year of 2005-2006 has officially been announced as “The Year of Indonesian Arts and Culture.” They have extended the visa-on-arrival facility for foreign tourists to 33 countries instead of the original 20. (Saraswati 2005) Campaigns like these will help boost the tourism industry.


Fisheries

Coastal regions are generally near fishing grounds. Fishing grounds are not necessarily near the coastal regions, so we are assuming that the fish are not affected by the tsunami. Often, fisheries exhibit overfishing, so the period in which there is no fishing should give time for the population to grow. (Ibarra, Reid, Thorpe) If the fish supply is low, the plantation of mangroves (which are also part of preventive measures taken by countries) will provide a healthy habitat for the fish and other aquaculture to live in.

The main objective in reviving the fishing industry is to give tools and boats to the fishermen who need it in order to relive their old lives. Damaged boats need to be fixed or new ones need to be allocated to those who need them. The government and non-governmental organizations have supplied boats and supplies to farmers after the tragedy in the
Indian Ocean basin.

Peru is known for its Peruvian anchovy and the processing of it. Specifically in Peru, a processing company needs to be rebuilt in order for profit to be gained by the country. As the fishermen continue fishing, new processing plants need to be built to accommodate the catches made.

Micronesia has rich fishing grounds. It is not only exploited by the islands, but by foreign countries who give money to the nation to obtain rights to operate in Micronesia’s territory. Micronesia receives $20 million annually for the right to operate in its territory. (Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs 2005) The fisheries in Micronesia should not face many problems. The period in which no fishing occurs will allow the fish to multiply.

 
Livelihood

While the “central agency” has the responsibility of deciding how funds are allocated, it is the responsibility of the government to actually implement livelihood/civilian reemployment.  The government shall keep records of all funds allocated to civilians.  This would probably cause a major change in the degree to which the government of Peru keeps track of its citizens (Population Trends:  Peru, Thomas McDevitt), but perhaps not as much for the government of Micronesia (Government of the Federated States of Micronesia).  Funds may be allocated in many forms, some of which include:
            (a) hourly wages for short-term/long-term employment;
            (b) physical funds;
            (c) market recovery incentive funds

 (a) Hourly wages for short-term/long-term employment:  the government shall offer monetary assistance to civilians hired for temporary jobs, particularly those pertaining to long-term relief tasks, such as reconstruction of roads, buildings, etc. (naturally, those civilians hired for certain types of semi-skilled or skilled labor will have been proven to be qualified for the labor).  Monetary assistance shall also be offered to civilians that begin farming, especially farming that is specifically begun as a response to new agricultural demands (i.e., because of the tsunami).  For farming, physical funds will also be provided.

 (b) Physical funds:  physical funds are forms of assistance that the government offers that are separate from funds for hourly wage, and are generally intended for particular physical things.  For example, in the case of farming, the physical funds that the government offers are tractors, plows, other essential farming equipment, seeds, etc.  For the fishing industry, the government offers physical funds in the form of boats and fishing equipment to those civilians involved in fishing/fisheries.

(c) Market recovery incentive funds:  the government shall introduce to the public a “Market Restoration Incentive Program” that would encourage civilians to reintroduce their stores/markets.  With this program the government would assist the concerned civilian with 20% of startup costs (or another percent based on available funds, as decided by the “central agency”) for the store/market. 

To receive these funds, the concerned civilian would have to prove that his/her store/market is a legitimate market by an application process.  Included in the application process would be a description of the market, and, more importantly, an explanation (or list) of the sources of goods going into the market.  The government would only offer assistance to civilians that were getting their goods from sources already okayed by the government, such as NGO’s or other government-approved agencies.


Sources:

Australian Red Cross. (2005). Asia earthquake & tsunami No. May 2005)

Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs. (2005). Background notes of countries of the world: Micronesia., 1-5. from the Business Source Premier database.

Glenn, E. P., O'Leary, J. W., Watson, C., Thompson, T. L., & Kuehl, R. O. (1991, Mar 1, 1991). Salicornia bigelovii torr.: An oilseed halophyte for seawater irrigation.

Goodin, J. R., Epstein, E., McKell, C. M., & O'Leary, J. W. (2001). Saline agriculture: Salt-tolerant plants for developing countries. Washington, DC: National Academy Press.

Greening the Desert(2005). In Cole D. (Ed.), Roadside Productions.

Hollaender, A. (Ed.). (1979). The biosaline concept: An approach to the utilization of underexploited resources. New York: Plenum Press.

Ibarra, A. A., Reid, C., & Thorpe, A. (2000). Neo-liberalism and its impact on overfishing and overcapitalisation in the marine fisheries of chile, mexico and peru.25(5), 599-622.

Lake Toba summit expected to encourage convention tourism in N sumatra.(2005, 09-Mar-05). Antara,

Lander, M. A., & Khosrowpanah, S. (2004). Development of annual rainfall distribution map for island of pohnpei state, federated state of micronesia No. 2003GU19B)

McDevitt, T. (1999). Population Trends:  Peru. International Brief, 99-1, 1-4.

Muhawi, D. (2004). Seawater farms bringing life from deserts and seawater.http://www.ecoworld.org/Home/articles2.cfm?TID=336

People.  (2000). Government of the Federated States of Micronesia.  Retrieved 1 November 2005 from http://www.fsmgov.org/info/people.html

Saraswati, M. S. (2005, 22-Aug-05). National news - govt kicks out campaign to boost tourism. The Jakarta Post,

Thailand launching huge "phuket rebirth" campaign to woo back tourists.(2005, 22-Oct-05). MediaCorp NewsAsia, Science, 251(4997) 1065.

United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. (2002). Extension of Funding and Program Assistance Under the Compact of Free Association :. Washington: U.S. G.P.O. : Supt. of Docs., U.S. G.P.O., Congressional Sales Office.from http://purl.access.gpo.gov/GPO/LPS19505; http://purl.access.gpo.gov/GPO/LPS19506

Waylen, P., & Tapley, T. (1990). Spatial variability of annual precipitation and ENSO events in western peru. Hydrological Sciences Journal HSJODN, 35(4), 429-446.