APPLICATION OF COASTAL FOREST IN TSUNAMI DISASTER MITIGATION

Tsunamis and storm surges have killed more than one million people, and some three billion people live with a high risk of these disasters that are becoming more frequent and devastating worldwide. Effective mitigation of such disaster is possible via healthy coastal forests, which can reduce the energy of the wave. Many independent studies are conducted to evaluate the control functions of coastal forest against tsunami and several recommendations are proposed to improve the mitigative effects of such natural shield. However, in many instances the ideas diverse in their view points. In order to synthesise the research findings and to propose a best practicable and optimal solution, a comparative study was conducted among available results and recommendations. Especial focus was given to the Tsunami 2004 in Indian Ocean. This paper reviews previously produced numerical and experimental results and compares them with field observation. The relationship between the degree of damage reduction and associated parameters especially width, size and density of coastal vegetation are discussed.