Myanmar ranks #4 in the world for annual forest area lost per year. Between 2000 and 2005, the country lost, on average, 466,000 hectares per year which puts their annual deforestation rate at 1.45% based on FAO statistics.
Given deforestation results in higher flooding and erosion rates and mangroves serve as important buffers against storm surges, I'm wondering to what degree Myanmar's serious deforestation played a role in the tremendous loss of life from Cyclone Nargis...
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By now you've heard about the recent death of Larry (Bud) Melman, the old Late Night With David
"Amazon Deforestation: Earth's Heart and Lungs Dismembered"
Remember in the early '90s, when people were all up at arms about the destruction of the rainforest? I haven't heard or read anything about it in the longest time. Are the rainforesets still being destroyed wholesale? Are they all gone? Is it still important?
Miss Sheril,
I think the loss of life in Burma is as related to deforrestation of the coasts as the destruction of New Orleans in Katrina is related to the loss of wetlands. If you just look at this picture of the Lousisana coast, you can clearly see the pnkish outlinf of New Orleans, with little green around it to offer protection from storm surge. One would hope that national level emergency managers would actually think about this stuff, and be as active in calling for change as the environmental community has. Sadly, one would be wrong.
http://www.esl.lsu.edu/demos/modis/modis-diversions-highres.jpg
Mangroves and cyclones:
http://layscience.net/?q=node/119