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Science 28 October 2005:
Vol. 310. no. 5748, p. 643
DOI: 10.1126/science.1118387
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Brevia

The Asian Tsunami: A Protective Role for Coastal Vegetation

Finn Danielsen,1* Mikael K. Sørensen,2 Mette F. Olwig,2 Vaithilingam Selvam,3 Faizal Parish,4 Neil D. Burgess,5,6 Tetsuya Hiraishi,7 Vagarappa M. Karunagaran,3 Michael S. Rasmussen,2 Lars B. Hansen,2 Alfredo Quarto,8 Nyoman Suryadiputra9

The 26 December 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami had major effects on coastal communities and ecosystems. An assessment of coastlines after the tsunami indicates that coastal vegetation such as mangroves and beach forests helped to provide protection and reduce effects on adjacent communities. In recent years, mangroves and other coastal vegetation have been cleared or degraded along many coastlines, increasing their vulnerability to storm and tsunami damage. Establishing or strengthening greenbelts of mangroves and other coastal forests may play a key role in reducing the effect of future extreme events.

1 NORDECO, Skindergade 23, Copenhagen DK-1159, Denmark.
2 Geographic Resource Analysis and Science, University of Copenhagen, Øster Voldgade 10, Copenhagen, Denmark.
3 M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation, 3rd Cross Street, Taramani, Chennai 600 113, India.
4 Global Environment Centre, 2nd Floor, Wisma Hing, 78, Jalan SS2/72, 47300 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia.
5 Conservation Biology Group, Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
6 World Wildlife Fund USA, 1250 24th Street NW, Washington, DC 20037–1193, USA.
7 Port and Airport Research Institute, Nagase 3-1-1, Yokosuka, Japan.
8 Mangrove Action Project, Post Office Box 1854, Port Angeles, WA 98362–0279, USA.
9 Wetlands International Indonesia, Post Office Box 254/BOO, Bogor 16002, Indonesia.

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: fd{at}nordeco.dk

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