Mangroves as Protection from Storm Surges in Bangladesh
Mangrove forests can reduce the vulnerability of adjacent coastal lands from storm surges by slowing the flow of water. Although the potential utility of mangroves in disaster risk reduction is increasingly recognized by coastal managers, efficient use of this ecosystem-based protection is often hindered by the scarcity of location-specific information on the protective capacity of mangroves. This paper evaluates that capacity in seven coastal locations of Bangladesh, where surge heights can range from 1.5 to 9 meters. Estimates confirm varying levels of protection from different species, width, and density of mangrove forests. The findings highlight that mangroves must be used along with built infrastructure such as embankments. However, mangroves in the foreshore of embankments will contribute to savings in maintenance costs by protecting the built infrastructure from breaching and other damages.
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Working Paper biblioteca |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
World Bank, Washington, DC
2017-11
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| Subjects: | MANGROVES, STORM SURGE, DISASTER RISK MANAGEMENT, COASTAL LAND, FLOODING, EMBANKMENTS, |
| Online Access: | http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/798551511274945303/Mangroves-as-protection-from-storm-surges-in-Bangladesh https://hdl.handle.net/10986/28912 |
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| Summary: | Mangrove forests can reduce the
vulnerability of adjacent coastal lands from storm surges by
slowing the flow of water. Although the potential utility of
mangroves in disaster risk reduction is increasingly
recognized by coastal managers, efficient use of this
ecosystem-based protection is often hindered by the scarcity
of location-specific information on the protective capacity
of mangroves. This paper evaluates that capacity in seven
coastal locations of Bangladesh, where surge heights can
range from 1.5 to 9 meters. Estimates confirm varying levels
of protection from different species, width, and density of
mangrove forests. The findings highlight that mangroves must
be used along with built infrastructure such as embankments.
However, mangroves in the foreshore of embankments will
contribute to savings in maintenance costs by protecting the
built infrastructure from breaching and other damages. |
|---|