Community’s response to coastal environment

Living on sea is inevitably having impact from nature tidal cycle and accompanied by potential hazards such as land erosion, subsidence, mudslide, etc. The situation may be more severe in the century of climate change. Extreme climate reflected on sea level rise, unpredictable weathers and increasing frequency of natural hazards, while undeniably, the coastal community is one of the most vulnerable living groups in climate change.

In this study, the adaptation measure is observed by local practice of space pattern.

From former sections, it can be found that the spatial pattern is majorly influenced by the natural environment. The impact from environment is one of the major factors to spatial pattern adjustment to adapt coastal environment. The adaptation measures to be taken by inhabitants in spatial practice will be discussed in this section accompanied by investigation to local perception towards environment change. The primary data have been collected from informal interviews and field observation. It includes socio-economic condition of water settlement, coastal impacts and potential disasters to live on water, and grass roots and government’s response to climate change.

Table 2.2 Spatial pattern adjustment in adapting coastal environment

Year Event Spatial pattern adjustment

1860s Kukup Laut and Ayer Masin were formed.

Tended to gather to sheltered shadow of Kukup Island to seek protect from strong waves and winds on the Straits of Malacca.

1970s A significant reduction of fish catch due to sea pollution

On stilt fish trap (Kelong) gradually be abandoned.

1970 Land subsidence Kukup road had been bunded and broaden to prevent flood and tidal intrusion.

1977 A part of Ayer Masin’s path was destroyed by waves.

Houses tended to gather to center of sheltered shadow of Kukup Island. No new path has built from the time.

1979 A significant reduction of fish

catch due to sea pollution Developed floating fish farms.

1981

15 to 16 units of houses located at the first row facing the straits collapsed due to mudslide (Kukup Laut).

Houses were parallel reconstructed inwards and near the shore. It became the pattern be referred until now.

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Year Event Spatial pattern adjustment

1990s

Several times of mudslide happened but without consistent rhetoric to exact year. One of them caused collapse of port, and another caused collapse of an administration office.

New concrete port and office be built.

Source: summarized by the study

To be noted that, the impact of tide is not the one-time hazard but continue to occur in daily life. The hazard is the accumulated result of constant intrusion and erosion. Tidal cycle is accompanied by issues such as erosion, mudslide, subsidence, and flooding.

The erosion is happening quietly in Kukup everyday life that can only be perceived by the residents. It is found in the interviews to elders that, at least 50 years ago since now, the ground was actually approachable during low tide period in a distance of 3 to 4 feet height. Till now, the distance from house’s floor to ground during low tide may reach 8 feet height and is being elevated slightly every year. It also destroyed public space.

Mudslide happened several times in the settlement and destroyed the outward buildings facing the sea. The intrusion of tide accompany by land subsidence. Local measures to adapt to coastal environment include elevating houses; locate houses away from open water without shelter.

Figure 2.30 Collapsed office and replaced by 3 story building along Kukup Road Source: personal communication, 2012

The speed of land subsidence is mainly observed on Kukup Road. The road was originally swampy mangrove mudflats and paved by stones and sand to make accessible. It

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was decorated to asphalts on 1970s. Land subsidence has continued to occur accompanied by, both natural and man-made factor, tidal force and increasing load of buildings.

Flooding happened frequently during monsoon season every year September to January.

And yet, landfills work to construct 55 units of 3 story commercial shops and a bus terminal on land was done by 1990s. The subsidence is so significant that road elevating has to be operated every few years to ensure road functioning.

Figure 2.31 Flood commonly happens during monsoon period Source: personal communication, 2012

It is also found that the frequency of events increases. Destructive power is getting stronger and more obvious in daily life. The adaptation measures have been done by villagers, allowing people to continue to live in coastal area. However, the study to coastal land erosion and subsidence (Ong, 2000) and sea level rise (JUPEM, 2008) also show the vulnerability of Kukup to climate change. It is extremely important to examine local resilience to adapt climate change with local measures.

2.5 Conclusions

In the case study, the settlement’s pattern is highly referred to natural contour line either riverbank or coast. The pattern appeared as parallel to contour line and also expanded towards the center of sheltered shadow of Kukup Island. From the layout of additional sequence of settlement, it can be found that the development of spatial pattern

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can be classified into the layers of buildings, followed by road and path, and finally public space.

Houses, workshop and jetty are the essential components at its origins pattern, which also the proof to the motive of livelihood in the forming of settlement. During the development, sea pollution, erosion and mudslide bring significant impact to the settlement’s pattern including the direction and distribution of settlement growth, alteration and addition of space components.

By observing its spatial structure, it is found that demand of high enclosure and distinction from external the settlement is obvious. It can be observed from the building that house shape of narrow facing the street and developed to the back. Also, street system without clear gate way highlighted boundaries between villages and between residents and tourists. Public space in the village are mostly be used by local while the facilities on Kukup Road serve mostly outsiders also reflects living area of villages tends inward the center of settlement.

In other hand, people live on sea also feedback to nature environment by measures in response to its characteristic. The contact between nature and people is constantly ongoing and form local perception to the surrounding environment and adaptation. Hence, understanding people’s perception to tidal hazards and environment change is essential to design effective implementation policy in local community’s resilience.

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