Tsunami-Damaged Ecosystems Could Take Years to Recover

Overshadowed in the coverage of the human toll of the south Asian tsunami is the damage it did to the region's delicate ecosystems. Animals and plants dwelling on the shoreline were the worst hit, as were the fragile coral reefs and mangrove forests.

Coral reefs in the Maldives were completely destroyed. These will take decades to recover, as coral grows at only 1/2 cm (less than 1/4") per year. This will have a direct impact on the area's economy, as the diving resorts that grew up around these reefs may not rebound anytime soon.

Source: SciDev.Net