Which is the better solution of coastal erosion bringing toward sustainability development?

Muhammad Hafiz B. Yaacob & Nor Syuhada Binti Zulkefli

University Science of Malaysia

Abstract

Malaysia is a maritime nation blessed with invaluable coastlines. Hence it is important to preserve its precious coastal areas in a sustainable manner. However, coastal areas are continuously facing tremendous development pressures both from natural and manmade factors. Waves generated by storms, wind, or fast moving motor craft, cause coastal erosion. Coastal erosion is a natural process along the world’s coastlines that occurs through the actions of current and waves. Coastal erosion also is the wearing a way of land and the removal of beach by wave action, tidal current, wave currents, or drainage. Coastal erosion is a natural process that becomes a hazard or problem when it poses that threat to things the human’s value. How to address coastal erosion is a challenge for government and other agency because there have many alternative remedial measures. To protect coastal erosion, some areas need to build fortress to separate the beaches from the effects of the seas. For example Seawalls and revetments are built to protect the land behind them. Groins are rock, timber, concrete or metal pilings built perpendicular to the shore to reduce sediment transport and widen beaches. Besides that, the offshore breakwaters are offshore rock or concrete armor units are designed to reduce the wave energy before it reaches the beach.

        Nowadays, coastal protection strategies can be better planned under a shoreline management plan which takes into account the response of the neighbouring shoreline and its potential affect on economic activities, habitats and ecosystems. The importance of preserving natural coastal resources were realised on a global scale, efforts have been made to migrate from the conventional approach of hard engineering to soft engineering and eco-engineering especially in environmentally sensitive areas. The novelty of these solutions is their ability to sustain natural resources and even add-value to the coastline. This paper presents a description of some of the new innovative solutions with a focus on Malaysian experience, and discusses their strengths, limitations and related issues. There have many solution but we don’t know which the better solution are.