Officials eye Andaman coastal erosion

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Marine and Coastal Resources Department is formulating plans to tackle coastal erosion in six Andaman Sea provinces.

The most severe erosion was found in Tambon Saladan on Krabi's Koh Lanta, where five metres of coastline a year is disappearing, specialist Vudhichai Janekarn said yesterday.

Other hard-hit areas are Phang Nga's Laem Pakarang-Ban Lha-on in Takua Pa district and Trang's Pak Meng Beach in Sikao district.

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Presenting the 2011-September 2012 survey data in a meeting at Krabi City Hall, Vudhichai identified 57 coastal-erosion hotspots along the 1,093-kilometre Andaman coast - 45 locations on the mainland and 12 on islands in Krabi, Trang, Phang Nga, Phuket, Ranong and Satun.

He proposed the building of coastal-protection barriers to lessen the severity of the erosion. An advisory committee was looking into ways of constructing durable barriers out of material that could be found locally, had low maintenance costs and would be accepted by residents.

-- The Nation 2013-02-06

Officials eye Andaman coastal erosion

I thought I was going to read "for new luxury condominium project"

An advisory committee was looking into ways of constructing durable barriers out of material that could be found locally, had low maintenance costs and would be accepted by residents.

Oh, gee, I don't know... maybe MANGROVES!?

I have been living at Ban Bang Niang, Khao Lak, Takua Pa, Phangnga since 2000. The high water line has been moving further inland constantly since at least as long as I have been here. Bungalows built 4 meter from the shore in 2005 now look like they're gonna collapse into the sea in the not too distant future. Individual beachfront land owners try to protect their land buy constructing walls, but it doesn't make much sense. Like the plot of land right next to it being empty, the water will come in from the side, and after some time the wall will be standing alone at the beach before collapsing some day.

Thailand’s Andaman coast in jeopardy of erosion

By English News

KRABI, Feb 6 – Erosion has wreaked havoc on more than 1,000 km of coastline in Thailand’s six southern provinces along the Andaman Sea, according to the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry.

Sukanjanawadee Maneeratana, director of the Director Coastal Erosion Protection and Coastal Zone Management Bureau, said systematic erosion prevention is urgently needed to protect the coastal areas in Krabi, Trang, Phang-nga, Phuket, Ranong and Satun.

Vudhichai Janekarn, a specialist on marine resources management, said environmental change, global warming and human activities have contributed to the coastal erosion.

An aerial photography survey in 2011-2012 found that 45 coastal zones and 12 islands are encountering erosion and the highest-risk spot is on the scenic Lanta Island off Krabi province where the erosion rate is five metres per year, he said.

Two other severely-damaged areas are in Takua Pa District of Phang-nga province and Pakmeng Beach in Trang province.

In the initial stage, erosion protection will be built by using durable, wave-absorbing materials approved by community residents, he said.

Thanet Mannoi, director of the Center for Marine and Coastal Conservation 5, said preparations are underway to erect bamboo poles along the coast in Kaper district of Ranong for some 600 metres. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2013-02-06

Whatever the solution

1. It will cost far more than it should.

2. There will be a burst of profiling and a couple of visits by the eminents.

3. It will be a bodge.

4. Any necessary maintenance will not be carried out.

5. It will fail and disappear into the anus of history.

The only way that such projects can be successful in Thailand is if some wealthy bigwig stands to either loose or gain a big wedge of notes.

In California, the Army corp of engineers has been using jetties and other fancied devices that ruined the surf, furthered the erosion and caused additional sand removal and beach disappearance. After most of the rivers and creeks were cemented and the natural sand was stopped from replenishing. The kelp beds died and the rocks and other man made barriers did more harm than good. Now with the sea rising and glaciers melting and more development, the writing is on the wall. Last time i went to polluted Hawaii it was showing the effects of the masses living and visiting there. Once the natural cycles are broken and man tries to help, it seems the ultimate doom on the beach horizon!