Natural recovery of tsunami impacted littoral and mangrove forests in Nicobar Islands, India

Abstract

Tropical forests are one among the species rich biome on earth. The high species diversity and complexity in its functionality makes this forest type as the most resilient ecosystem. The ever increasing anthropogenic pressures and natural -calamities are placing tropical forest at a high risk in the recent time. Due to high levels of disturbance, most of the tropical forests of today are in various stages of succession. Natural disturbances such as flood. forest fire, land slide and hurricane are known to cause long lasting impacts on a large scale in tropical forests. Tsunami perhaps could be the new addition to the above list. The natural recovery of vegetation after large scale disturbances are influenced by many ecological and environmental factors. Hence, understanding the vegetation recovery pattern and the influencing factors are important in planning and implementing habitat restoration programme.