Coastal Issues

 


Indonesia suffers from coastal erosion, several of the nations islands are affected by this hazard. The island of Bali the major tourist destination is dwindling at a steady pace. The shoreline has receded from 668.64 kilometers to 662.59 kilometers between 2016 and 2021 setting a average rate of 3.97 feet lost per year. On the central island of Sulawesi, the erosion of the shoreline has claimed 44 acres of land and racked hundreds of millions of rupiah in damages over a 2 year period. The abrasion is so severe there that sea water made it's way into groundwater supplies contaminating the drinking water.  This has forced residents to find alternative solutions to obtain water, some use rain collectors, others purchase gallons which can be stenosis on the impoverished residents.   

A percentage of these issues are caused by the removal of natural barriers such as mangrove trees and human interference. In Java 78% percent of the mangroves around the coast are gone, leaving coastal settlements vulnerable to flooding, storms, and erosion. In Bali rapid urbanization to keep up with tourism has created environmental challenges that pose a threat to the natural environment.   

Mitigations:  
Efforts to reintroduce mangroves into the environment are on going. A initiative focused on "building with nature" produced by several entities including the Indonesian Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, the Ministry of Public Works and Housing, and groups Wetlands International and Ecoshape was brought to the table in 2020. This initiative aimed to involve and educate the community and rebuild 20km of mangrove coast. Other mitigations that can be used are seawalls, sandbags, breakwaters, or groins all though they may have negative repercussions.


Sources: 
https://news.mongabay.com/2024/06/balis-rapid-coastal-erosion-threatens-islands-ecosystems-communities-study/  

https://news.mongabay.com/2023/11/salty-wells-and-lost-land-climate-and-erosion-take-their-toll-in-sulawesi/  

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