165
lead to conclude that there are a lot of uncertainties to relate the erosion of islands
and global warming induced sea level rise as geological settings, geographic features and tectonic movements often generate signals of noise in such direct causeeffect relationship.
Sea level rise has considerable impact on the economic profile of the developing
countries. A research analysis conducted by Dasgupta et al. (2009) for the 84 developing countries is summarized in Table 6.3. The analysis indicates that approximately 0.3% (194,000 km
2
) of the territory of the 84 developing countries would be
impacted by a 1 m sea level rise. This would increase to 1.2% in a 5 m sea level rise
scenario. Though this remains relatively small in percentage terms, approximately
56 million people (or 1.28% of the population) in these countries would be impacted
under a 1 m sea level rise scenario. This would increase to 89 million people for 2 m
sea level rise (2.03%), and 245 million people (5.57%) for 5 m sea level rise. The
impact of sea level rise on GDP is slightly larger than the impact on population,
because GDP per capita is generally above average for coastal populations and cities. Wetland would experience significant impact even with a 1 m sea level rise. Up
to 7.3% of wetlands in the 84 countries would be impacted by a 5 m sea level rise.
However, these impacts are not uniformly distributed across the regions and countries of the developing world.
Impacts were also estimated for individual countries/ territories. Table 6.4 summarizes the results for each indicator by presenting the top-10 impact cases (as a
percentage of their national values). For this purpose, the 1 m sea level rise scenario
was used. In terms of population impacted, the top 10 countries/territories worldwide are: Vietnam, A.R. Egypt, Mauritania, Suriname, Guyana, French Guiana (Fr),
Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, The Bahamas and Benin. Around 10% of the populations of Vietnam and the A.R. of Egypt would be displaced with a 1 m sea level
rise for land area. The Bahamas is by far the most impacted country, with close to
12% of its area inundated. Ten percent of the urban areas of Vietnam and Guyana
would be inundated by a 1 m sea level rise and the A.R. of Egypt’s agricultural land
would experience the largest percentage impact: 13% would be submerged. The
research indicates that areas inundated by a 1 m sea level rise would account for
10% of GDP in Vietnam and more than 5% in Mauritania, A.R. Egypt, Suriname
and Benin. Finally, nearly 28% of the wetlands in Vietnam, Jamaica and Belize
would be inundated by a 1 m sea level rise. For all of the indicators used in this
research, Vietnam ranks among the top 5 most impacted countries, with the A.R. of
Egypt, Suriname and the Bahamas consistently ranking among the highest.
Defensive Role of Mangroves against Sea Level Rise
Mangroves have adapted special aerial roots, support roots, and buttresses to live in
muddy, shifting, and saline conditions (Fig. 6.8).
They possess the ability to adapt to changes in sea level by growing upward in
place, or by expanding landward or seaward. Mangroves produce peat from
Defensive Role of Mangroves against Sea Level Rise
lead to conclude that there are a lot of uncertainties to relate the erosion of islands
and global warming induced sea level rise as geological settings, geographic features and tectonic movements often generate signals of noise in such direct causeeffect relationship.
Sea level rise has considerable impact on the economic profile of the developing
countries. A research analysis conducted by Dasgupta et al. (2009) for the 84 developing countries is summarized in Table 6.3. The analysis indicates that approximately 0.3% (194,000 km
2
) of the territory of the 84 developing countries would be
impacted by a 1 m sea level rise. This would increase to 1.2% in a 5 m sea level rise
scenario. Though this remains relatively small in percentage terms, approximately
56 million people (or 1.28% of the population) in these countries would be impacted
under a 1 m sea level rise scenario. This would increase to 89 million people for 2 m
sea level rise (2.03%), and 245 million people (5.57%) for 5 m sea level rise. The
impact of sea level rise on GDP is slightly larger than the impact on population,
because GDP per capita is generally above average for coastal populations and cities. Wetland would experience significant impact even with a 1 m sea level rise. Up
to 7.3% of wetlands in the 84 countries would be impacted by a 5 m sea level rise.
However, these impacts are not uniformly distributed across the regions and countries of the developing world.
Impacts were also estimated for individual countries/ territories. Table 6.4 summarizes the results for each indicator by presenting the top-10 impact cases (as a
percentage of their national values). For this purpose, the 1 m sea level rise scenario
was used. In terms of population impacted, the top 10 countries/territories worldwide are: Vietnam, A.R. Egypt, Mauritania, Suriname, Guyana, French Guiana (Fr),
Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, The Bahamas and Benin. Around 10% of the populations of Vietnam and the A.R. of Egypt would be displaced with a 1 m sea level
rise for land area. The Bahamas is by far the most impacted country, with close to
12% of its area inundated. Ten percent of the urban areas of Vietnam and Guyana
would be inundated by a 1 m sea level rise and the A.R. of Egypt’s agricultural land
would experience the largest percentage impact: 13% would be submerged. The
research indicates that areas inundated by a 1 m sea level rise would account for
10% of GDP in Vietnam and more than 5% in Mauritania, A.R. Egypt, Suriname
and Benin. Finally, nearly 28% of the wetlands in Vietnam, Jamaica and Belize
would be inundated by a 1 m sea level rise. For all of the indicators used in this
research, Vietnam ranks among the top 5 most impacted countries, with the A.R. of
Egypt, Suriname and the Bahamas consistently ranking among the highest.
Defensive Role of Mangroves against Sea Level Rise
Mangroves have adapted special aerial roots, support roots, and buttresses to live in
muddy, shifting, and saline conditions (Fig. 6.8).
They possess the ability to adapt to changes in sea level by growing upward in
place, or by expanding landward or seaward. Mangroves produce peat from
Defensive Role of Mangroves against Sea Level Rise