Damages caused by hurricane Irma in the human-degraded mangroves of Saint Martin (Caribbean)

Abstract

In early September 2017, Irma was the most powerful hurricane that struck the northern Caribbean over the last 100 years. In the 21st century, the stronger types of tropical cyclones will likely increase in frequency due to the climate change and internal climate variability. Lessons to anticipate the response of mangroves to this intensification can be learned from this extreme event. Here, we analysed damages caused in mangrove forests of the Saint Martin Island. Mangroves of this island were previously degraded due to historic human pressures and recent over-urbanisation. Forest inventories and time series of very high resolution satellite images revealed that approximately 80% of the mangrove area was damaged by the hurricane. Results highlighted distinct rates of forest recovery. Early and rapid recoveries were largely observed in most study sites. However, some mangroves were still unable to recover fourteen months after the disturbance. The human-induced degradation of the ecosystem prior to the hurricane is hypothesised to be the main factor controlling the absence of forest recovery. We suggest that human-degraded mangroves will be weakened in the face of such extreme events. We advocate to preserve and restore mangroves in order to guarantee all the valuable ecosystem services they provided.

Nature-Based Engineering: A Review on Reducing Coastal Flood Risk With Mangroves

“…The resilience and recovery of mangrove forests are further influenced by the ecological health and status of a mangrove forest prior to storm events. For example, deteriorated mangrove forests recover more slowly from severe tree damage caused by storms (Milbrandt et al, 2006;Harris et al, 2010;Primavera et al, 2016;Walcker et al, 2019).…”

Efecto Del Huracán Irma en Un Manglar Mixto De Cayo Santa María, Villa Clara, Cuba

“…Sin embargo, la densidad del total de árboles vivos y secos es 2 similar entre los dos años, 0,42 y 0,44 ind/m , respectivamente. Estos valores sugieren que el vegetación que sobrevivieron al huracán, como parte de la estrategia de sucesión natural de los bosques que han sido perturbados (Berovides et al, 2005;CITMA, 2014;Brookhuis & Hein, 2016;Cobos & Alonso, 2016;Imbert, 2018;Walcker et al, 2019).…”

“…En los estudios anteriores se habían detectado afectaciones, aunque de manera escasa y puntual en algunas parcelas. Walcker et al, 2019). La cobertura del dosel fue baja (23,3%), mientras que la del suelo fue alta (65,0%).…”

Caribbean mangrove forests act as coral refugia by reducing light stress and increasing coral richness

“…However, under natural conditions, mangroves are resilient and storm damage is rarely persistent. It is when anthropogenic stressors degrade the mangrove ecosystem and alter flow regimes that mangroves are unable to recover (Walcker et al 2019). If mangroves can be protected from human destruction, they may serve as refugia for corals under climate change and a global strategy for coral reef persistence.…”

“…Although both coral reefs and mangroves are threatened by climate change, the greatest threat to mangrove survival is local anthropogenic stressors (e.g., land conversion for aquaculture, palm oil plantations, coastal development, and pollution) and pending rates of deforestation, mangroves are predicted to survive into the foreseeable future even with global temperatures, atmospheric CO 2 concentrations, and sea levels continuing to rise (Alongi 2015, Friess et al 2019). At a global scale, hurricanes and associated extreme weather events are predicted to increase with climate change and the high energy winds, destructive waves, and storm surges can cause severe damage to mangrove habitats (Walcker et al 2019). However, under natural conditions, mangroves are resilient and storm damage is rarely persistent.…”