Over recent decades, the coastline along Java\u2019s north coast has\nchanged significantly, affecting the balance of coastal ecosystems as\nwell as the social and economic conditions of local communities. The\nNature-Based Solution (NbS) programme is one proposed way to restore the\nsustainability of coastal communities\u2019 living spaces.<\/p>\n
The problems affecting Java\u2019s north coast have drawn serious\nattention from President Prabowo Subianto. Protecting the area is seen\nas an urgent task and part of efforts to safeguard civilisation,\nparticularly in coastal areas.<\/p>\n
The government subsequently established the North Java Coast\nManagement Authority (BOPPJ) under Presidential Regulation No.\u00a077 of\n2025. The non-structural body is responsible for managing preparations,\nplanning, construction and development in the coastal areas of Java\u2019s\nnorth coast.<\/p>\n
\u201cBOPPJ is expected to coordinate the integrated and sustainable\nmanagement of protection for Java\u2019s north coast, prioritising ecological\nprotection,\u201d the authority said in a statement on Tuesday (20 October\n2026).<\/p>\n
BOPPJ has planned 15 development management segments along Java\u2019s\nnorth coast. The segments extend from Serang in Banten to Gresik in East\nJava, using a hybrid approach that includes mangrove breakwaters,\ncoastal embankments and sea walls.<\/p>\n
BOPPJ\u2019s NbS programme is designed around the use of mangrove\nbreakwaters. This approach prioritises the rehabilitation of coastal\necosystems along Java\u2019s north coast, particularly mangroves.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis concept operates as a layered protection system. On the\noutermost layer, offshore breakwaters reduce wave energy while trapping\nsediment,\u201d the authority said.<\/p>\n
\u201cBehind them, a mangrove belt grows as a natural buffer. Further\ninland, coastal embankments protect residential areas and local\nbusinesses,\u201d it added.<\/p>\n
In broad terms, NbS combines mangrove restoration with the use of\nwave barriers. The demonstration site for the protection approach is in\nTimbulsloko village, Sayung district, Demak regency.<\/p>\n
Timbulsloko was selected because its coastline is eroding at an\naverage rate of 279 metres a year, the highest along the entire North\nJava Coast. The problem is compounded by land subsidence of 10\u201320\ncentimetres a year in parts of Sayung.<\/p>\n
The extreme erosion has destroyed thousands of hectares of fish\nponds, settlements and mangrove forests, and submerged several villages\nin Sayung district. If left unchecked, cumulative subsidence at the\nworst-affected points could exceed one metre over 15\u201320 years.<\/p>\n
The NbS demonstration project in Timbulsloko combines mangrove\nrestoration with HexBRIck wave barriers, an innovation developed by the\nNational Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN). BOPPJ head Didit\nHerdiawan Ashaf said he hoped other areas facing similar conditions\nwould adopt the same concept.<\/p>\n
\u201cGiven the current conditions, we hope the surrounding affected areas\nand other areas with similar characteristics can receive the same kind\nof intervention,\u201d Didit said.<\/p>\n
The HexBRIck wave barriers used in Timbulsloko are precast hexagonal\nconcrete blocks designed to control erosion, coastal abrasion and soil\ninstability, particularly in coastal, riverside and muddy areas.<\/p>\n
Their hexagonal shape allows the blocks to interlock, forming a\nstable and flexible structure that can reduce the energy of waves and\nwater flows while still allowing water infiltration and vegetation to\ngrow.<\/p>\n
Timbulsloko residents are directly involved in casting and installing\nthe HexBRIck blocks as a form of community empowerment. Their\ninvolvement is intended to provide not only economic benefits but also\ntechnical skills and a sense of ownership of local coastal protection\nefforts.<\/p>\n
The programme is expected to stabilise Timbulsloko\u2019s coastline by\nreducing erosion and tidal flooding as sediment accumulates and\nmangroves grow behind the breakwater.<\/p>\n
The multi-stakeholder collaboration model is also expected to be\nreplicable in other sections of Java\u2019s north coast and to open up\nopportunities for sustainable funding, including through the potential\ndevelopment of blue carbon.<\/p>\n
However, Didit acknowledged that coastal areas along Java\u2019s north\ncoast have different characteristics. BOPPJ will study those differences\nbefore applying the NbS programme in other locations.<\/p>\n
\u201cElsewhere, the approach may not be the same because each area has\nits own particular characteristics. We need to study that together,\u201d\nDidit said.<\/p>\n
Didit also said the coastal protection programme had been discussed\nwith local communities. He stressed that the activities of fishers and\nfish farmers would not be disrupted.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are also using this programme as an opportunity to talk with\npeople about social integration during construction. We will not close\neverything off,\u201d Didit said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe will not close everything off. I mean that places used to support\neconomic activity and livelihoods\u2014whether at sea or in fish ponds\u2014will\nremain accessible,\u201d he added.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/understanding-nbs-boppjs-programme-to-protect-javas-north-coast-1792471914", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }