Land-based physical and biological environmental mitigation measures of a mega port construction in Thailand

It is undeniable that a mega port is important to the nation’s economy and its population. On the other hand, a port construction creates numerous environmental impacts. To achieve sustainable development, environmental mitigation measures need to be strictly followed. Since a mega port is constructed once in many decades, a case study during the port construction, like this article, is very rare. Our article presents how Thailand protects its surrounding environment during the construction of Laem Chabang Port (the biggest container port in the country), phase 3. The phase3 reclamation construction started in May 2021 and is expected to be completed in 2025. However, only land-based physical and biological environmental mitigation measures are presented because of the page limit. The land-based environmental impacts are mostly related to truck driving, truck exhaust, road maintenance and cleanliness, noise, dust, and vibration. This article shows that the joint-venture contractor of the reclamation project realizes the necessity of caring for society and the environment

A Review on COVID-19 and Coastal Management

COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the intricate relationships between human health, the social-ecological system, and coastal management in an era of climate and global change [...

Port-induced erosion prediction and valuation of a local recreational beach

This study attempts to integrate environmental economics and coastal engineering in managing port-induced coastal erosion occurring at a common beach by using Map Ta Phut port in Thailand as a case study. The existence of the port creates coastal erosion which can be considered an externality that affects local inhabitants, and a port owner and shipping companies can be seen as "polluters". Overlaying of aerial photographs provided strong evidence that the coastline was severely eroded after the construction of the port. Coastal engineering softwares, LITPACK and MIKE 21 PMS, were utilized to predict future shoreline positions and investigate wave patterns around the port. The port alters wave climate and the port-induced erosion is jeopardizing a local recreational beach called Nam Rin, which is projected to disappear in 5 years. A valuation of Nam Rin beach using single-bounded dichotomous choice contingent valuation method revealed individual willingness to pay (WTP) for the beach, being 867.5 baht (approximately US$ 24.8) per year. Multiplying the individual WTP with the appropriate number of population to acquire the beach protection benefit and dividing such benefit by construction and maintenance costs of a particular beach protection measure, the polluters can select a proper beach protection approach that fulfills their benefit-cost requirement.Map Ta Phut port Willingness to pay Coastal erosion "Polluter-pays" principle Beach valuation

Land-based physical and biological environmental mitigation measures of a mega port construction in Thailand

It is undeniable that a mega port is important to the nation’s economy and its population. On the other hand, a port construction creates numerous environmental impacts. To achieve sustainable development, environmental mitigation measures need to be strictly followed. Since a mega port is constructed once in many decades, a case study during the port construction, like this article, is very rare. Our article presents how Thailand protects its surrounding environment during the construction of Laem Chabang Port (the biggest container port in the country), phase 3. The phase3 reclamation construction started in May 2021 and is expected to be completed in 2025. However, only land-based physical and biological environmental mitigation measures are presented because of the page limit. The land-based environmental impacts are mostly related to truck driving, truck exhaust, road maintenance and cleanliness, noise, dust, and vibration. This article shows that the joint-venture contractor of the reclamation project realizes the necessity of caring for society and the environment

Adaptation of coastal defence structure as a mechanism to alleviate coastal erosion in monsoon dominated coast of Peninsular Malaysia

The complexity of the coastal environment and the advent of climate change cause coastal erosion, which is incontrovertibly a significant concern worldwide, including Peninsular Malaysia, where, the coast is threatened by severe erosion linked to anthropogenic factors and monsoonal wind-driven waves. Consequently, the Malaysian government implemented a mitigation plan using several coastal defence systems to overcome the coastal erosion problem. This study assesses coastal erosion management strategies along a monsoon-dominated coasts by evaluating the efficacy of coastal protection structures against the coast. To this end, we analysed 244 km of the coastline of Terengganu, a federal state located on the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia. Due to a higher frequency of storms and the ensuing inception of high wave energy environments during the northeast monsoon (relative to southwest monsoon), the study area is the most impacted region in Malaysia with regard to coastal erosion. Fifty-five (55) coastal defence structures were detected along the Terengganu coastline. The Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS) was utilised to compute changes in the rate statistics for various historical shoreline positions along the Terengganu coast to assess the efficacy of the defence structures. Additionally, this study acquired the perception of the existing coastal management strategies through an interview session with the concerned stakeholders. The rate statistics revealed the effectiveness and impact of the coastal defence structure on the coastline. Assessing the functionality of the coastal defence structures shed light on the present scenario of coastal erosion management. Greater efficacy and lower impact of coastal defence structures are prescribed for coastal erosion management strategies across the monsoon-dominated coast

The impact of climate change on coastal erosion in Southeast Asia and the compelling need to establish robust adaptation strategies

Climate change alters the climate condition and ocean environment, leading to accelerated coastal erosion and a shift in the coastline shape. From previous studies, Southeast Asia's coastal region is suffering from severe coastal erosion. It is most sensitive and vulnerable to climate change, has broad and densely populated coastlines, and is under ecological pressure. Efforts to systematically review these studies are still insufficient despite many studies on the climate change linked to coastal erosion, the correlation between coastal erosion and coastal communities, and the adaptative measures to address these issues and their effectiveness in Southeast Asia. Therefore, by analyzing the existing literature, the purpose of this review was to bridge the knowledge gap and identify the link between climate change and coastal erosion in Southeast Asia in terms of sea-level rise, storm surge, and monsoon patterns. The RepOrting standards for Systematic Evidence Syntheses (ROSES) guided the study protocol, including articles from the Scopus and Dimension databases. There were five main themes considered: 1) climate change impact, 2) contributing factors to coastal erosion, 3) coastal erosion impact on coastal communities, 4) adaptation measure and 5) effectiveness of adaptation measure using thematical analysis. Subsequently, nine sub-themes were produced from the themes. Generally, in Southeast Asia, coastal erosion was reflected by the rising sea level. Throughout reviewing past literature, an interesting result was explored. Storm surges also had the potential to affect coastal erosion due to alterations of the atmospheric system and seasonal monsoon as the result of climate change. Meanwhile, an assessment of current erosion control strategies in relation to the relative hydrodynamic trend was required to avoid the failure of defence structures and the resulting danger to coastal communities. Systematically reviewing the existing literature was critical, hence it could significantly contribute to the body of knowledge. It provides valuable information for interested parties, such as authorities, the public, researchers, and environmentalists, while comprehending existing adaptation practices. This kind of review could strategize adaptation and natural resource management in line with coastal communities' needs, abilities, and capabilities in response to environmental and other change forms

Managing erosion of mangrove-mud coasts with permeable dams – lessons learned

International audienceMangrove-mud coasts across the world erode because of uninformed management, conversion of mangrove forests into aquaculture ponds, development of infrastructure and urbanization, and/or extraction of ground-water inducing land subsidence. The accompanied loss of ecosystem values, amongst which safety against flooding, has far reaching consequences for coastal communities, exacerbated by sea-level rise. To halt erosion various nature-based solutions have been implemented as an alternative to hard infrastructure sea defenses, including mangrove planting and erection of low-tech structures such as bamboo fences, permeable brushwood dams, etc. These structures have been designed on the basis of best-engineering practice, lacking sufficient scientific background. This paper investigates the use and success of permeable dams over a period of about 15 years, describing their application in Guyana, Indonesia, Suriname, Thailand and Vietnam, summarizing the lessons-learned, and analyzing their functioning in relation to the physical-biological coastal system. Also an overview of relevant costs is given.The basic philosophy behind the construction of permeable dams is the rehabilitation of mangrove habitat through re-establishment of the (fine) sediment dynamics - we refer to Building with Nature as the overarching principle of this approach. Our main conclusions are that a successful functioning of permeable dams requires (1) a thorough understanding of the physical-biological system and analysis of the relevant processes, (2) patience and persistence, including maintenance, as the natural time scales to rehabilitate mangrove green belts take years to decades, and (3) intensive stakeholder involvement. We give a list of conditions under which permeable dams may be successful, but in qualitative terms, as local site conditions largely govern their success or failure