Assessing Nature-Based Coastal Protection against Disasters Derived from Extreme Hydrometeorological Events in Mexico

Octavio Pérez-Maqueo, M. Luisa Martínez, Flor C. Sánchez-Barradas and Melanie Kolb
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Octavio Pérez-Maqueo: Red de Ambiente y Sustentabilidad, Instituto de Ecología, A.C., Xalapa 91070, Veracruz, Mexico
M. Luisa Martínez: Red de Ecología Funcional, Instituto de Ecología, A.C., Xalapa 91070, Veracruz, Mexico
Flor C. Sánchez-Barradas: Red de Ambiente y Sustentabilidad, Instituto de Ecología, A.C., Xalapa 91070, Veracruz, Mexico
Melanie Kolb: Instituto de Geografía, UNAM, Ciudad de México 04510, Mexico

Sustainability, 2018, vol. 10, issue 5, 1-17

Abstract: Natural ecosystems are expected to reduce the damaging effects of extreme hydrometeorological effects. We tested this prediction for Mexico by performing regression models, with two dependent variables: the occurrence of deaths and economic damages, at a state and municipality levels. For each location, the explanatory variables were the Mexican social vulnerability index (which includes socioeconomic aspects, local capacity to prevent and respond to an emergency, and the perception of risk) and land use cover considering different vegetation types. We used the hydrometeorological events that have affected Mexico from 1970 to 2011. Our findings reveal that: (a) hydrometeorological events affect both coastal and inland states, although damages are greater on the coast; (b) the protective role of natural ecosystems only was clear at a municipality level: the presence of mangroves, tropical dry forest and tropical rainforest was related to a significant reduction in the occurrence of casualties. Social vulnerability was positively correlated with the occurrence of deaths. Natural ecosystems, both typically coastal (mangroves) and terrestrial (tropical forests, which are located on the mountain ranges close to the coast) function for storm protection. Thus, their conservation and restoration are effective and sustainable strategies that will help protect and develop the increasingly urbanized coasts.

Keywords: nature-based coastal protection; extreme hydrometeorological events; tropical cyclones; economic damage; casualties; Mexico; coast; sustainable coasts (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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