On December 26, 2004, a magnitude 9.3 earthquake triggered the Indian Ocean tsunami, one of the most devastating natural disasters ever recorded. While the actual tidal wave was caused by uncontrollable natural forces, many scientists agree that the disaster’s effects were exacerbated by poor environmental management. Anthropogenic climate change causes coastal erosion, mangrove loss and coral reef destruction; in the absence of these natural protective barriers, the giant wave carried its energy all the way to shore, killing over 250,000 people and causing billions of dollars of damage. In areas where natural buffer zones remained, such as the Phang Nga province, inland territories were protected by large mangrove forests