title: How effective were mangroves as a defence against the recent tsunami?
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Biocomplexity Research Team, c/o General Botany and Nature Management, Mangrove Management Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dahdouh-Guebas
authors.forename: L P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Jayatissa
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Di Nitto
authors.forename: J O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Bosire
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lo Seen
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Koedam
mesh_terms: D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D004190:Disasters; D017753:Ecosystem; D006801:Humans; D013188:Sri Lanka; D014197:Trees