Scientists scathing on coastal tree planting - SciDev.Net

Scientists scathing on coastal tree planting - SciDev.Net

[NEW DELHI] Natural coastal ecosystems have been widely destroyed by the planting of alien trees in the mistaken belief that they will work as 'bioshields' against storms and tsunamis, says an international group of scientists.

The team, writing in the February issue of Conservation Letters, reviewed more than 30 papers on the planting of belts of trees as bioshields.

The researchers concluded that there is little evidence to show they protect against storm surges — temporary increases in sea level associated with stormy winds — or tsunamis.

Additionally, using foreign tree for this purpose is doing extraordinary environmental damage, they said.

The review adds to the debate on bioshields' protective role (see Mangroves 'protect coastal villages during cyclones' and Mangroves 'do not protect against tsunamis').