Coastal ecosystems provide natural protection against storms, but quantifying their economic value remains challenging. Using satellite-based measures of nighttime lights as a proxy for economic activity, we study how mangrove forests buffer coastal areas against hurricane damage.
We find that mangroves provide substantial protection: areas with wider mangrove belts experience significantly smaller economic losses after hurricanes. These findings provide direct evidence for the economic value of coastal ecosystem conservation and have important implications for climate adaptation policy.