Wolanski, Eric (2007) Protective functions of coastal forests and trees against natural hazards. In: Braatz, S., Fortuna, S., Broadhead, J., and Leslie, R., (eds.) Coastal Protection in the Aftermath of the Indian Ocean Tsunami: what role for forests and trees? Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, Bangkok, Thailand, pp. 157-179.

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Abstract

This paper argues that coastal forests and mangroves need to be restored and even created, to enhance the capacity of estuaries and coastal waters to provide ecological services to the human population living on its shores, as well as to protect the coast from wind damage, salt spray, coastal erosion, typhoons, and even in saving human lives during a tsunami. It is stressed that these coastal bioshields cannot provide complete protection; they must be part of regional plan to reduce the risk of loss of life, property and infrastructure to an acceptable level. A sacrificial zone within this bioshield must be incorporated in the management plan. The appropriate choice of vegetation depends on the severity of the natural hazards, the bathymetry, and the climate, the local land use, and the available options to survive extreme events. It is stressed that the solution to protecting the coast from natural hazards is not just local; it also involves the whole river catchment. Indeed vegetation must be used to protect the coastal population from landslides in the mountainous areas and along the river banks, and large dams must be operated so as to maintain the coarse riverine sediment flow necessary to prevent coastal erosion. Bioshields, including mangroves, provide important ecohydrological services such as creating self-scoured navigable channels, sheltering coastal seagrass beds and coral reefs from excess sedimentation, and enhancing fisheries; these are all resources that the human population living along tropical estuaries and coasts rely on for their livelihood and quality of life.

Item ID:	8864
Item Type:	Book Chapter (Research - B1)
ISBN:	978-974-7946-95-6
Related URLs:	Publisher
Date Deposited:	22 Jul 2010 05:40
FoR Codes:	05 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES > 0501 Ecological Applications > 050102 Ecosystem Function @ 30% 05 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES > 0502 Environmental Science and Management > 050205 Environmental Management @ 40% 05 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES > 0502 Environmental Science and Management > 050209 Natural Resource Management @ 30%
SEO Codes:	96 ENVIRONMENT > 9605 Ecosystem Assessment and Management > 960501 Ecosystem Assessment and Management at Regional or Larger Scales @ 30% 96 ENVIRONMENT > 9605 Ecosystem Assessment and Management > 960503 Ecosystem Assessment and Management of Coastal and Estuarine Environments @ 60% 96 ENVIRONMENT > 9606 Environmental and Natural Resource Evaluation > 960604 Environmental Management Systems @ 10%
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