They are the nurseries of the ocean, where many species of fish and shrimp breed and serve as a buffer against coastal erosion in a region where much of the population livesin low-lying areas.

VOA: standard.2010.03.29

And Turkey acts as a buffer on Iran's border from the encroachment of Western NATO powers and to some extent Israel.

VOA: standard.2010.07.26

"You have a very large population of people stuck inside a combat area serving as a buffer between an impending government assault and Tamil Tiger resistance.

VOA: standard.2009.04.26

U.N.officials say the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam have ignored calls to release tens of thousands of civilians they are using as a "buffer" between them and the military in the combat zone.

VOA: standard.2009.05.11