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Mangroves as Coastal Protection for Local Economic Activities from Hurricanes in the Caribbean

Author

Listed:
  • Miranda,Juan Jose
  • Butron,Luigi
  • Pantoja,Chrissie
  • Gunasekera,Rashmin

Abstract

In recent decades, hurricane frequency and intensity have increased in the CaribbeanBasin. From 2000 to 2012, more than 100 hurricanes impacted lives, infrastructure, and economic activity along theregion’s shorelines. Studies suggest that mangrove forests’ dense root systems might mitigate the impact of hurricanes,which would help stabilize the coastline and prevent erosion from waves and storms. Although many tropical mangroves arefound on Caribbean coasts, climatic and anthropogenic events have been clearing these wetland ecosystems at an annualrate of 1 percent since the 1990s. This study quantifies the effects of hurricane windstorms on economic activity usingnightlight as a proxy at the highest spatial resolution data available (1 square kilometer). Using different widths ofthe mangrove belt, it measures levels of mangrove natural protection against the impact of hurricanes and studies thebroader socioeconomic and environmental effects of this protection. The results suggest that while major hurricanesreduce nightlight by approximately 2 percent and up to 16 percent in storm surge prone areas, the presence ofmangroves on the coast mitigates the impact of hurricanes, reducing nightlight by 1–6 percent.

Suggested Citation

  • Miranda,Juan Jose & Butron,Luigi & Pantoja,Chrissie & Gunasekera,Rashmin, 2021. "Mangroves as Coastal Protection for Local Economic Activities from Hurricanes in the Caribbean," Policy Research Working Paper Series 9863, The World Bank.
    • Handle: RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:9863
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Keywords

    Natural Disasters; Economic Growth; Industrial Economics; Economic Theory & Research; Coastal and Marine Resources; Energy and Natural Resources;
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