Coastal erosion due to long-term human impact on mangrove forests

A coast in southern Vietnam, which is located in a wide and flat alluvial fan and neighbors tidal rivers fringed by wide mangrove swamps, has been eroded continuously by approximately 50 m/year since the early 20th century. Based on field observations and numerical experiments, it is inferred that this large scale erosion is caused by the transition of mangrove vegetation resulting from the long-term impact of humans since the late 19th century. This eroded coast is not in direct contact with mangrove swamps, but is strongly affected by the existence of mangrove forests through the intermediation of neighboring tidal rivers. Thus, with a view to coastal protection, it is argued that the mangrove vegetation in adjacent areas should be managed more sensitively.