On December 26, 2004, a tsunami, the likes of which had never been experienced before, struck the Indian coast and devastated populations along the coast and impacted the natural coastal systems. The consequent large-scale destruction of habitations, coastal infrastructure and human casualties was followed by an immediate humanitarian response. In addition, the extent of the impact of this extreme event on the fragile coastal habitats was also a source of concern. The UNTRS/UNDP formed the Post Tsunami Environment Initiative (PTEI) to address these concerns.