Natural Barriers to Natural Disasters

Coastal forests, according to various reports, ameliorated the death toll and damage caused by the December 2004 tsunami in the Indian Ocean. Many organizations have therefore advocated the replanting of forests as a natural barrier against tsunamis. For example, the World Conservation Union (IUCN) is promoting "Mangroves for the Future," a $62 million program that aims to build natural barriers of mangroves in 12 countries in Asia and Africa. Discussions to date within the conservation community have concentrated on how to make these replanting programs successful. A far more important consideration, however, is whether or not these barriers will be effective against future tsunamis.