The role of coastal forests in the mitigation of tsunami impacts

RAP PUBLICATION 2007/1

The role of coastal forests
in the mitigation of
tsunami impacts

Keith Forbes and Jeremy Broadhead

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific
Bangkok, 2007

The designation and presentation of material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers and boundaries.

All rights reserved. Reproduction and dissemination of material in this information product for educational or other non-commercial purposes are authorized without any prior written permission from the copyright holders provided the source is fully acknowledged. Reproduction of material in this information product for sale or other commercial purposes is prohibited without written permission of the copyright holders. Applications for such permission should be addressed to the Senior Forestry Officer, FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, 39 Phra Atit Road, Bangkok 10200, Thailand.

This publication is based on “The Role of Coastal Forests in the Mitigation of Tsunami Impacts – Main report” www.fao.org/forestry/site/coastalprotection/en

ISBN 978-974-13-9321-3

Cover photo: Susan Braatz, FAO

Published by
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

For copies of the report, write to:
Patrick Durst
Senior Forestry Officer
FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific
Maliwan Mansion, 39 Phra Atit Road
Bangkok 10200
THAILAND
Tel: (+66) 2 697 4139
Fax: (+66) 2 697 4445
E-mail: [email protected]

Acknowledgements

Foreword

A preventable tragedy?

Effectiveness of coastal forests as a solution

How coastal forests work as a barrier

Implications for coastal forest management

Can coastal forests become a liability?

Conclusions

References

Contents