once surpassing the minimum width, to promote sedimentation. The larger the width the more efficient the attenuation of waves and currents will be, offering both a successful seedling and sedimentary environment. Our analysis of available data both
from literature and from satellite observations supports our basic assumption: an average critical width of 140 m is found for the southeastern and eastern Mekong Delta coast as a minimum width to sustain a healthy mangrove forest.