mangroves

His comments come on a day marking the first anniversary of a project to protect all of nation's mangroves.

As well as storing carbon, the forests provide habitat for fish and protect communities from tsunamis and cyclones.

Also on Tuesday - World Mangrove Day - Sri Lanka's president will open the world's first mangrove museum.

The museum will act as a hub for conservation training for adults, and educating children about the value of mangroves. It is estimated that 20,000 pupils will visit the museum in the first year.

Nelson Kakau Bakokoto, is particularly concern over what he described as destruction of Mangroves in the name of economic development by both foreign and local investors.

“In the early 1960’s and even before that, the foreshore around the whole of Port Vila Harbor was surrounded by the Mangrove trees,” he said.