Community-led ecosystem-based adaptation, inner Gulf of Thailand
- Thailand
ENTRY DATE: 09.03.2012 | LAST UPDATE: 09.03.2012
SCALE:
- Community Level
TARGET AREA:
- Rural
BEST PRACTICE IN:
- Project Implementation
KEY SECTOR:
- Coastal Zone Management
FUNDING AMOUNT:
- USD 100,001 - USD 500,000
Description of Intervention
As opposed to national and provincial governments’ investment in concrete wall structures and sandbags, the local communities joined forces in a network to tackle the erosion problem by constructing bamboo fences/walls (based on traditional technology), supplemented by mangrove planting. One kilometer of bamboo costs US$250,000, compared to the US$ 1.1-1.4 million estimated costs for concrete and sandbag structures.
Problems to be Addressed
Human activities, such as dam construction and irrigation, and land subsidence resulting from excess groundwater extraction, have led to a decrease in sediment supply to the coast and consequent severe coastal erosion in the Gulf of Thailand. The impacts of coastal erosion have not only resulted in the loss of physical infrastructure and aquaculture and farmland, but have also increased the vulnerability of the villagers to storm surges and floods.
Aims
Protecting farms against coastal erosion and flooding
Objectives
n/a
How it fits into the EbA concept
Bamboo-made fence/walls and mangrove trees are used as natural infrastructure to reduce vulnerability to storm surges, rising sea levels and floods. This traditional technology using the available ecosystem services is an extremely cost-effective community-led adaptation method.