Overall damage to ecosystems in Sumatra

Description

These images show a combination of a rocky, hilly headland along with a small river delta and swampy coastal strip. A low-lying wetland area connects the northern and western ocean fronts. An integration of natural and agricultural ecosystems operating prior to the tsunami combined rice cultivation, and fish/shrimp ponds (tambak), alongside natural delta mangrove forests and wetlands. Coastal forests and onshore reefs are also present. The effect of the tsunami is clearly evident. It scoured out the low lying delta land, destroyed fish ponds and removed mangrove cover. Volumes of soil and silt have evidently been carried out to sea expanding the area of the small lake by a factor of approximately 10. There has been removal of the sandy beaches (important in some locations for turtle nesting) and deposition of silt or mud on the reef. Apparently minor effects on the integrity of the rocky vegetated shoreline surrounding the headland are likely due to the resilient nature of the substrata, as well as dense natural vegetation cover and the sloping nature of the shore.