[extropy-chat] Confirmed: Trees DO protect against tsunami waves

[Alfio Puglisi]

On Sun, 30 Oct 2005, BillK wrote:

> <http://whyfiles.org/shorties/189mangrove/>
>
> Mangroves are dense stands of trees that are adapted to life in
> tropical, coastal wetlands. An estimated 26 percent of mangroves have
> been destroyed around the Indian Ocean through conversion to farm
> fields, aquaculture ponds, or from other causes, exposing the coast to
> accelerated erosion.

If I recall correctly, the name given to Mangroves by the indigenous 
populations in some regions hit by the Indian Ocean tsunami is "the tree 
that protects from the wave" (!), or something similar.

Those populations do not live on the coast, but only in the interior of 
the islands. One wonders why...

Alfio


>
> The study also found that beach forest trees that had been planted to
> protect against typhoons (as hurricanes are called in the region)
> helped protect land.
>
> ---------------
>
> So the conclusion is: -
> If you chop all the trees down to make money on coastal development
> with nice sea views, then you had better cash in quick and get your
> profits out before the next hurricane, storm surge or tsunami comes
> along and wipes it all away.
>
> BillK
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