We live amidst many hazards, but Nature can buffer us from her own fury – if we know how. Example: mangroves and sand dunes saved some communities from the tsunami. Understanding how ecosystems work and not tampering with Nature's ways can be a powerful strategy for disaster risk reduction.

This is one of 10 TV debates broadcast in mid 2008 in the 'Sri Lanka 2048' series, co-produced by TVE Asia Pacific and MTV Channel (Private) Limited, in partnership with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and sponsored by the Government of the Netherlands. More information at: http://www.srilanka2048.com/