Economist Comment on Giant Sea Wall: Expensive and Unsustainable

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Director of the Institute for Demographic and Poverty Studies (IDEAS) Yusuf Wibisono responded to the giant sea wall development plan in the northern coastal area of Java. 

"The giant sea wall in the northern coastal area of  Java (Pantura) is an expensive and unsustainable conventional policy that will not hold against the rising sea surface level," Yusuf told Tempo on Monday.

According to Yusuf, developing a mega infrastructure to withstand the threat of rising sea surface levels is a step in the wrong direction. "A sea wall will not resolve the root cause of rising sea surface level in coastal areas, and even potentially worsen the coastal ecological crisis while destroying the livelihood of fishermen and coastal communities," he added.

Sustainable policies must be focused on corrective measures with long-term effects, Yusuf said. "For example, prohibiting the extraction of groundwater, utilizing coastal areas for conservation, and disallow activities in conflict with coastal preservation, protecting river basins, and mangrove reforestation," he said.

The best out of that measure, Yusuf went on, is coastal ecological rehabilitation, especially the mangrove ecosystem. Mangrove has a crucial role in protecting the beach from tsunamis and high waves, maintaining the quality of water, and the habitat of coastal biotas.

On the other hand, the Secretary of Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs Susiwijono Moegiarso said that giant sea wall development will protect the threat in the northern coastal areas of Java. Susi also claimed on Thursday, Jan. 25 that the concept of a giant sea wall is not a novel thing.

DEFARA DHANYA PARAMITHA

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