Due to
global
warming, low-lying Bangladesh may not have much of a
future, and if YOU live in a major coastal city (as many of us
do), there could be a
tsunami in
YOUR future. Agricultural researchers think that cities should
protect themselves from tsunamis and hurricanes by planting
shelterbelts.
In the Independent, Ann McFerran reports that the island of
Aralia, which is part of the nation of Bangladesh, is one of the
first drowning casualties of climate change. The rising ocean
surrounding it has reduced it to about one-fifth of its former
size.
The US isn't immune to this kind of problem. Following the
devastating aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and the December
2004 tsunami in Southeast Asia, many international planning
agencies have searched for ways to prevent such tragedies
in the future. Iowa researchers Gene Takle, Mike Chen and
Xiaoqing Wu developed a set of guidelines for rebuilding
coastal forests. In Thailand, where hundreds of bodies had
washed up on the beach after the 2004 tsunami, Takle
says, "Much loss of life from this tsunami was attributed to
destruction of coastal forests. Villages in India and Southeast
Asia that preserved their coastal mangroves suffered far less
damage."
The team suggests the following: planting trees as close to
the sea as possible; using short salt-tolerant and sparse
shelters on the seaward edge; using tall species of high wind
resistance on the landward side; and leaving gaps between
rows and irregularly within the rows to extend the protected
zone, but allowing for onshore flow of the cooling sea-breeze
in nonhazardous conditions.
We soon may see these type of forest greenbelts rising up on
the edges of some of our major US cities.
Art credit: freeimages.co.uk
Our readers are learning all the time and
travel to
exotic locales on a regular basis?and even into
other
dimensions! Others have incredible experiences
right here
at home. Keep the excitement of our edge news and
wonderful radio shows coming:
subscribe
today!
To learn more,
click here and
here.
