Experts contradict Thai govt on coastal erosion

[webfact]

Experts contradict govt on coastal erosion

By PRATCH RUJIVANAROM 
THE NATION 

 

The breakwaters at Rayong's Saeng Chan Beach have transformed once long sandy beach to series of small bays. // Pratch Rujivanarom

 

EXPERTS SAY coastal erosion in Thailand is getting worse, not better, as had been earlier announced by the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources.

 

Chulalongkorn University’s Department of Geology lecturer Thanawat Jarupongsakul said yesterday at a press conference that coastal erosion in Thailand had not improved, despite a previous statement by the coastal resources department.

 

Thanawat said about 830 kilometres, or 30 per cent, of all coastlines in Thailand were at critical levels for erosion at a rate of more than five metres per year. This is far worse than stated in information from the coastal resources department, which recently said only 145 kilometres out of a total 3,000 kilometres of shoreline were regarded as critical areas for erosion.

 

The breakwaters at Rayong's Saeng Chan Beach have transformed once long sandy beach to series of small bays. // Pratch Rujivanarom

“There are many areas where the authorities think that the problem has been solved, as hard structures have been built to stop coastal erosion. But from an academic point of view, these structures do not solve the problem, but instead cause erosion at nearby unprotected areas,” he said.

 

“Moreover, these structures cannot withstand the force of nature in the long run and eventually waves will destabilise the structures’ foundation and collapse. The hard structures like seawalls … are intensifying the problem, not solving it.”

 

He said the problem showed authorities still lacked an understanding of marine geology. The construction of concrete structures has already taken its toll, as Thailand has lost up to 79,725 rai (12,656 hectares) of land and 227,937 rai of sandy beaches, mudflats and sand dunes due to serious coastal erosion problems.

 

Thanawat urged the government to include erosion issues as part of the national agenda to solve the problem both in the long and short term.

 

Rear Admiral Pravit Phipit-kosonwong, head of a working group to solve coastal erosion on the National Reform Council, said the greatest problem in solving coastal erosion was each relevant agency – such as the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, Marine Department and the Public Works and Town and Country Planning Department – all had their own responsibilities.

 

Proper cooperation to solve the issue was “nearly impossible”, Pravit said.

 

“I suggest that there should be a law to specifically overrule the integrative corroboration between different agencies in order to let all of the players truly work together on the same policy,” Pravit said.

 

He also said construction of hard structure barriers had to stop, especially in areas that did not yet have erosion problems. He added that the Public Works and Town and Country Planning Department already had plans to build seawalls on beaches that did not have erosion problems.

 

“We have to stop this problematic construction to prevent the problem spreading,” he said.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30339814

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-02-28

[daoyai]

they are now learning what Florida, Hawaii and California discovered 60 years ago, seawalls do not stop beach erosion.... sometimes it helps to study what others have learned.

[BigBadGeordie]

2 hours ago, daoyai said:

they are now learning what Florida, Hawaii and California discovered 60 years ago, seawalls do not stop beach erosion.... sometimes it helps to study what others have learned.

However, as with many issues facing the country, the powers that be take the view that this is a "Thai" problem and needs specific "Thai" answers.

What works well, and indeed the lessons learnt from mistakes in other countries, just does not apply to Thailand.

The "We know best and don't need any advice" attitude still prevails.

[trainman34014]

All those 'Bays' they have created are fast filling with garbage and will soon be full up.   Next plan please !

[Justfine]

On 28/02/2018 at 8:17 AM, daoyai said:

they are now learning what Florida, Hawaii and California discovered 60 years ago, seawalls do not stop beach erosion.... sometimes it helps to study what others have learned.

Let nature be natural. Don't build near the beach.

[gunderhill]

stop wiping  out the Mangroves!

[Chris Lawrence]

On ‎28‎/‎02‎/‎2018 at 8:46 AM, webfact said:

“We have to stop this problematic construction to prevent the problem spreading,” he said.

 

On ‎28‎/‎02‎/‎2018 at 8:46 AM, webfact said:

Rear Admiral Pravit Phipit-kosonwong, head of a working group to solve coastal erosion on the National Reform Council, said the greatest problem in solving coastal erosion was each relevant agency

 

On ‎28‎/‎02‎/‎2018 at 2:00 PM, trainman34014 said:

All those 'Bays' they have created are fast filling with garbage and will soon be full up.   Next plan please !

The Admiral is running on his own thoughts lacking scientific or empirical evidence obtained from these agencies. His words are as murky as the picture above. Now that's a problem.

[Ossy]

On 2/28/2018 at 4:46 AM, webfact said:

Chulalongkorn University’s Department of Geology lecturer Thanawat Jarupongsakul said yesterday at a press conference that coastal erosion in Thailand had not improved, despite a previous statement by the coastal resources department.

Latest News, Ossy Herald : University lecturer contradicts the Department of Marine & Coastal Resources, saying that coastal erosion in Thailand had not improved as previously stated by the DMCR . . .

 

 . . . A clear case of confidence erosion, maybe, but the facts do justify Thanawat's concern. He added:-

On 2/28/2018 at 4:46 AM, webfact said:

Thailand has lost up to 79,725 rai (12,656 hectares) of land and 227,937 rai of sandy beaches, mudflats and sand dunes due to serious coastal erosion problems.

 

Serious stuff, you'll agree and, to drive the point home, Rear Admiral Pravit Phipit-kosonwong, head of a coastal erosion working group (CEWG) on the National Reform Council (NRC), said the greatest problem in solving coastal erosion was each relevant agency – such as the DMCR, Marine Department (MR) and the Public Works and Town and Country Planning Department (PWATACPD) – all had their own responsibilities . .

 

The Herald notes that, after failing to complete the sentence, presumably having forgotten which sodding department he was supposed to be working for, Pravit concluded that proper cooperation to solve the issue was “nearly impossible”.

 

So, folks, you can each do your bit by avoiding garbage dropping, breakwater and other hard erections and anything else that might make Thailand's precious sand want to find a new home.

 

 

Edited March 3, 2018 by Ossy
clarity

[metisdead]

Troll posts and the replies have been removed. 

[mok199]

 just build another mall (with an ocean in it).....terminal 22

[YetAnother]

On 2/28/2018 at 4:46 AM, webfact said:

Rear Admiral Pravit Phipit-kosonwong, head of a working group to solve coastal erosion on the National Reform Council, said the greatest problem in solving coastal erosion was each relevant agency – such as the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, Marine Department and the Public Works and Town and Country Planning Department – all had their own responsibilities.

 

Proper cooperation to solve the issue was “nearly impossible”, Pravit said.

ah i see; this is what good governance is; just pass the buck;

well,in the true spirit of this place, i DeMand this be addressed, not ask, not discuss, i DeMand,

only right  i have is to DeMand