TAMIL NADU, India, Oct. 27 (UPI) -- Scientists say they've found areas with coastal forests, such as mangroves, were substantially less damaged by the 2004 tsunami than other areas.
The research, published in the journal Science, is believed the first peer-reviewed, empirical and field-based study to document a link between coastal vegetation and tsunami protection.
The research team included ecologists, a botanist, geographers, a forester, and a tsunami wave engineer, from seven nations.
"The tsunami left a horrific human tragedy in its wake, but also some lessons. Among them is the tremendous importance of mangroves, which are one of the world's most threatened tropical ecosystems," said Faizal Parish, director of Malaysia's Global Environment Center and a co-author of the study.
The research confirmed earlier research showing 30 trees per 100 square yards may reduce the maximum flow of a tsunami by more than 90 percent.
"Coastal vegetation could probably not have protected against catastrophic destruction in areas of maximum tsunami intensity," said Finn Danielsen, director of the Nordic Agency for Development and Ecology in Denmark and lead author. "In less hard hit areas, however, this study shows very clearly that areas with trees suffered less destruction than areas without trees."
