发展建设唤醒洪水猛兽 登州海岸线正在消失中

Summary

The coastal erosion in Terengganu is escalating rapidly, with fierce monsoon winds and rising sea levels threatening homes and businesses. While the expansion of the local airport in 2007 triggered the erosion, the construction of breakwaters meant to stop the damage has only pushed the erosion further north. Experts highlight the need for sustainable solutions, such as natural-based methods and careful planning, but these come with challenges. The government’s ongoing response of building more breakwaters may control the erosion temporarily, yet it remains uncertain how long these measures can keep the erosion from spreading further.

Takeaways

• 😀 Terengganu's coastline is rapidly eroding, threatening homes and businesses due to fierce monsoon winds and waves.
• 😀 Coastal erosion has worsened in the last two years, with some areas losing over 50 meters of land in just one year.
• 😀 The expansion of the Terengganu airport runway in 2007-2008 disrupted the natural flow of sand along the coast, accelerating erosion.
• 😀 Coastal defenses such as breakwaters have been constructed to protect against erosion, but they have unintentionally caused erosion to spread to neighboring areas.
• 😀 The chain of erosion started with the airport expansion and is now a cycle of building more coastal defenses to address the expanding problem.
• 😀 Experts suggest that natural-based solutions like vegetation along the coast could help mitigate erosion, but their large-scale implementation faces challenges.
• 😀 The government's plan includes the continued construction of breakwaters, but it remains unclear how far this cycle of construction will go.
• 😀 Communities in affected areas are hoping the government can complete coastal defense projects quickly, but there's uncertainty about how long the process will take.
• 😀 The primary issue behind the erosion is the interference with natural systems, which has led to the need for continuous intervention.
• 😀 Although breakwaters are a temporary solution, Dr. Effi and other experts stress the importance of carefully planning and managing each project to ensure long-term sustainability.

Q & A

What is causing the rapid coastal erosion in Terengganu?

Coastal erosion in Terengganu is caused by a combination of factors including rising sea levels, extreme weather events like monsoons, and the construction of coastal defenses, such as breakwaters and the airport runway extension, which disrupt the natural flow of sand along the coast.

How has the airport runway expansion contributed to coastal erosion?

The airport runway expansion, which was completed in 2008, extended the runway by 600 meters into the ocean. This disrupted the natural flow of sand from the Terengganu River, causing sand to accumulate on the south side of the runway, while the northern beaches lost sand rapidly, accelerating coastal erosion in the area.

Why are breakwaters, meant to protect the coast, contributing to further erosion?

Breakwaters trap sand in certain areas to reduce wave impact, but this disrupts the natural flow of sand along the coast. Beaches that once received sand from these areas now lose their supply, causing erosion to shift further north, creating an endless cycle of erosion as new breakwaters are built to protect these areas.

How much coastline in Kuala Terengganu has been affected by erosion?

Coastal erosion in Kuala Terengganu has been severe, with some areas losing more than 50 meters of coastline in just a year. In certain areas, like Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) and Gong Badak, the erosion has been so extreme that more than 60 meters of land were lost initially.

What is the role of extreme weather events in the coastal erosion of Terengganu?

Extreme weather events, such as typhoons and La Niña, have become more frequent in recent years, which has accelerated the loss of sand from the coastline. These events increase the intensity of waves, further contributing to the erosion process.

What are 'natural-based solutions' to coastal erosion, as discussed by Dr. Effi?

Natural-based solutions involve using vegetation to stabilize the coast and retain sand, as well as innovative structures that can hold sand and absorb wave impacts. These solutions are more sustainable than hard structures like rocks, but their implementation requires careful planning and community cooperation.

Why is beach nourishment, as a solution to coastal erosion, challenging in Terengganu?

Beach nourishment, which involves dumping sand to replenish eroded areas, is challenging due to the high cost and the difficulty in ensuring that the sand stays in place. Additionally, the involvement of low-income communities, who might not afford to contribute sand, complicates the process.

What is the government's plan to address the ongoing erosion in Terengganu?

The government has initiated a project to build 16 breakwaters along critical areas like Mengabang Telipot and Kuala Nerus, and is also conducting beach nourishment operations. However, this solution is temporary, and the erosion is expected to continue spreading further up the coast, requiring ongoing interventions.

What is the 'domino effect' of the airport runway expansion on coastal erosion?

The airport runway expansion triggered a chain reaction of coastal erosion, starting with the disruption of the natural sand flow. As a result, new coastal defenses, such as breakwaters, were built, but these have only shifted the erosion further north, creating an ongoing cycle of construction and erosion.

Can coastal erosion in Terengganu be stopped completely, or is it inevitable?

Coastal erosion is a natural process that cannot be completely stopped, but it can be controlled. The current approach of building breakwaters and other defenses is the most realistic solution given the situation, but the erosion will likely continue to spread unless more sustainable, long-term solutions are implemented.