Week 13 - Coastal Hazards
Because Indonesia is made up of over 17,000 islands and has over 99,000 km of coastline, most regions in the country are at high risk of various coastal hazards, the most common of which are coastal flooding and coastal erosion. Due to rising sea levels and unsustainable economic activities resulting in environmental damage, Indonesia loses about 1,950 ha of coastal area to erosion each year. In the past 15 years, about 29,261 ha of coastal area has been lost, which put together is about the size of Jakarta. One of the most significant causes of coastal flooding and erosion is the removal of mangrove forests along the coastline for residential and industrial purposes. Mangrove forests can serve as a buffer to suppress rising tides and waves, preventing coastal flooding, and can stabilize sediments with their roots, preventing coastal erosion.