Mangroves as bioshield: An undisputable fact

Mangroves are extraordinary ecosystems, providing many goods and services to human beings. These particularly include fisheries, forest products, pollution abatement, carbon sequestration and coastal protection against natural calamities such as tsunami and cyclones. However, a recent article by Satheeshkumar et al. (2012) questioned the role of mangroves as barriers against cyclones. These authors further claimed that the cost of mangrove restoration was higher than the value of the coastal protection service provided by them. The role of mangroves in coastal protection against cyclones, typhoons and tidal waves has been scientifically proved in several parts of the tropical region beyond all doubts. High priority should be given to conserve the remaining mangroves in order to minimize the impacts of natural disasters both in coastal and inland areas. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.