NbS in the Spotlight:
Mangroves protect communities from cyclone Amphan
On the night of 20th May 2020, cyclone Amphan pounded West Bengladesh, creating 3.5 metre waves. It was one of the most severe storms in decades and destroyed houses, damaged crops, and killed and displaced people and wildlife. However, the effects of the cyclone were less severe than they would have been in the absence of the Sundarbans Mangrove Forest. This is the largest mangrove forest in the world and, as with previous cyclones, it reduced wind speeds and broke up waves, lessening the impact of the storm. Unfortunately, the mangroves are being lost due to deforestation and changes in water salinity and silt content; 10,000 hectares have been lost in the last three decades.