When do Mangroves Create an Economic “Safe Haven” from Tropical Storms?

Abstract Evidence suggests that climate change will increase the frequency of intense storms. Mangroves may protect economic activity in coastal areas. We develop a model that illustrates protections from mangroves and coastal elevation and estimate the impacts of cyclones on coastal economic activity. We find that higher elevation or expansive mangroves alone shelter economic activity from “indirect” cyclone exposure whereas economic activity is only protected from “direct” cyclone exposure in high elevation communities with expansive mangroves. Our global mapping reveals that the majority of these “safe havens” are in upper middle-income countries but are used by populations in lower middle-income countries.