How effective were mangroves as a defence against the recent tsunami?
Whether or not mangroves function as buffers against tsunamis is the subject of in-depth research, the importance of which has been neglected or underestimated before the recent killer tsunami struck. Our preliminary post-tsunami surveys of Sri Lankan mangrove sites with different degrees of degradation indicate that human activity exacerbated the damage inflicted on the coastal zone by the tsunami.
Dahdouh-Guebas
F
F
Biocomplexity Research Team, c/o General Botany and Nature Management, Mangrove Management Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium.
Jayatissa
L P
LP
Di Nitto
D
D
Bosire
J O
JO
Lo Seen
D
D
Koedam
N
N
D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D004190:Disasters; D017753:Ecosystem; D006801:Humans; D013188:Sri Lanka; D014197:Trees