Mangroves and seagrass beds play in reducing flooding

What role did mangroves and seagrass beds play in reducing flooding

Mangroves and seagrass beds play crucial roles in reducing coastal flooding in Mauritius by acting as natural barriers and buffers.

Mangroves
Mangrove forests form dense root systems along Mauritius’s coastline and estuaries, physically trapping sediments and reducing soil erosion, which helps stabilize the shoreline during storms and high tides.​

These roots dissipate wave energy, lower the height and force of storm surges, and decrease floodwater velocity, thereby minimizing coastal and inland flooding during cyclones.​

Mangroves also slow the influx of water during flash flood events and catch runoff debris, providing both short-term (flood event) and long-term (erosion, land loss) protection.​

Restoration of mangrove ecosystems has been a key climate adaptation strategy in Mauritius, proven to enhance resilience in highly populated or vulnerable coastlines.​

Seagrass Beds
Seagrass beds, often found adjacent to mangroves and coral reefs in the shallow coastal lagoons, further reduce flooding risk by stabilizing sediments and promoting water clarity.​

Seagrasses attenuate wave energy as it moves toward shore, assisting in dissipating the impact of storm surges before they reach beaches and built environments.​

By trapping sediments, seagrass beds limit coastal erosion, contributing to longer-lasting shorelines and further protection for inland infrastructure and habitats.​

Healthy seagrass ecosystems also support coral reef function, creating a synergistic effect that maximizes storm and flood resistance along the Mauritian coast.​

Together, mangroves and seagrass beds reduce the magnitude and severity of coastal flooding in Mauritius, especially during cyclones and storm surges, by stabilizing the shoreline, dissipating wave energy, and maintaining ecosystem health for wider natural resilience.

Which Mauritian coasts are most vulnerable to surge due to geomorphology

Geomorphological Factors Affecting Vulnerability
Coasts lacking fringing coral reefs are most exposed to direct wave and surge impacts—these reefs typically dissipate much of the storm and tide energy before it reaches land.​

Eroded and narrow beaches, sand mining, rapid sediment loss, and insufficient seagrass beds reduce both the height and buffering effect of the shoreline, magnifying surge and flooding.​

Aggressive coastal development that eliminates mangroves and wetlands leaves regions open to rapid inundation and secondary impacts, including saltwater intrusion and loss of groundwater resources.​

In summary, Pereybere (north), Mon Choisy (northwest), Riviere des Galets (south), and Quatre Soeurs (east) are among the most geomorphologically vulnerable Mauritian coasts to storm surge, with exposure directly related to degraded protective ecosystems and low-lying geography.