Feagin, Rusty, Baird, Andrew, and Kerr, Alex (2008) Comment on "Forest clearance boosted power of Cyclone Nargis". Nature, 453. p. 270.

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Abstract

[Extract] This article implies that the destruction of the cyclone was intensified by recent loss of forest in Myanmar. However, neither the article nor those in the conservation movement making such statements have presented any evidence to support this. Much of the damage was caused by the 4 m storm surge and the associated flooding. There is, in fact, no empirical evidence to support the hypothesis that forest can reduce damage from storm surge or tsunami as the article also suggests. The comparison between cyclone Nargis and cyclone Sidr which struck Bangladesh in 1991 is, however, informative. But the difference in death toll between these events has nothing to do with differences in forests cover between locations as the article implies.

Item ID:	18407
Item Type:	Article (Commentary)
ISSN:	1476-4687
Related URLs:	Publisher
Additional Information:	The original Nature "News in Brief" article and associated comments can be viewed at http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/453270f
Date Deposited:	26 Oct 2011 00:03
FoR Codes:	06 BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES > 0602 Ecology > 060205 Marine and Estuarine Ecology (incl Marine Ichthyology) @ 100%
SEO Codes:	96 ENVIRONMENT > 9608 Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity > 960808 Marine Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity @ 100%
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