Environment Minister Jumhur Hidayat has stated that the construction\nof giant sea walls to prevent erosion and damage from waves on the\nnorthern coast of Java will be in vain if not balanced with changes in\nbehaviour within inland areas.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf there is no change in behaviour, for example, failing to manage\ngroundwater, then the sea walls themselves will end up sinking along\nwith the land,\u201d said Minister Jumert Hidayat during a public lecture at\nSultan Agung University in Semarang, Central Java, on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
He explained that while giant sea walls are important, they are not\nthe sole solution to addressing the threats of erosion and wave-induced\ndamage. In the near future, a Ministerial Regulation on the Environment\nwill be issued to regulate groundwater replenishment. \u201cThe regulation\nwill cover how groundwater extraction is managed and how water taken\nfrom the ground is returned to the earth,\u201d Hidayat added.<\/p>\n
Furthermore, the Minister noted that the performance of sea walls\nmust be combined with the presence of mangrove forests. \u201cMangroves can\nwork beyond the capabilities of concrete. Additionally, they provide\nhabitats for fish,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He also stressed that such adaptive policies must not become\nmaladaptive measures that impoverish local communities. \u201cEnsure that\nthese policies are supported by thorough studies. Furthermore, social\nacceptance is an absolute requirement,\u201d concluded the Environment\nMinister.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/environment-minister-sea-walls-are-futile-without-changes-in-land-based-behaviour-1780876894", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }