Deforestation may have magnified the devastating effects of the cyclone that hit Myanmar (formerly Burma) over the weekend, according to Surin Pitsuwan, secretary general of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN). The destruction of mangrove forests, which serve as a natural defense against storms that sweep in from the sea, left coastal areas in Myanmar exposed to the cyclone.

"Encroachment into mangrove forests, which used to serve as a buffer between the rising tide, between big waves and storms and residential areas; all those lands have been destroyed," Surin told the AFP news agency. "Human beings are now direct victims of such natural forces."

Cyclone and Disease May Kill 100,000
More than 22,000 people are confirmed dead or missing in the disaster, and a U.S. official in the area estimates that Cyclone Nargis eventually will account for more than 100,000 deaths, in part because Myanmar’s military junta has blocked most international relief efforts. In the Irrawaddy delta region, many survivors are desperate to find food and fresh water, unsanitary conditions that foster disease are common, and "95 percent of the buildings have disappeared,” according to Shari Villarosa, the U.S. charge d'affaires in Yangon.

How Mangroves Protect Coastal Areas
For generations, mangrove forests have served as bio-shields that protect coastal settlements. Mangroves provide dense vegetation and grow naturally in river deltas and along shorelines, extending inland far enough to create a strong buffer against winds and waves, which protects valuable property and saves lives.

A study, which was conducted after the 2004 Asian tsunami and published in 2005, concluded that mangrove forests in Sri Lanka saved many villagers from the disaster that claimed the lives of more than 200,000 people.

Researchers from IUCN, formerly the World Conservation Union, compared the death toll in two Sri Lankan villages that were hit by the tsunami and found a dramatic difference. In the village protected by a dense mangrove forest, only two people died as a result of the storm. In the other village, which had no protective mangrove buffer, 6,000 people were killed.

Mangrove Forests are Disappearing Worldwide
A global assessment study by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) showed that 3.6 million hectares of mangrove forests worldwide have disappeared since 1980. The loss has been worst in Asia, where 1.9 million hectares of mangrove forests have been destroyed by new shrimp and fish farms or other development aimed at accommodating growing coastal populations and the tourist industry.

According to Mette Wilkie, a senior forestry officer for the FAO, most of the mangroves in Myanmar have been affected by such changes. Even mangrove forests that are not actually destroyed are still being degraded.

"There are very limited areas that you would describe as pristine or densely covered mangrove in the Irrawaddy area," Wilkie told the BBC.

Loss of Mangrove Forests Increases Storm Risks for Coastal Communities
Some nations have started trying to rehabilitate or replant mangrove forests, but destruction is still outpacing recovery by a substantial margin.

As the loss of mangrove forests continues, the severity of storm effects will increase, placing more and more coastal communities in deadly peril.

_{Photo by Emlyn Addison}