Author(s): Ahmad Khairi Abd Wahab, Rosita Salam, Daeng Siti Maimunah Ishak
Linked Author(s): Ahmad Khairi Abd Wahab
Keywords: Coastal Vulnerability Index (CVI), coastal erosion, sea level rise, coastal zone management
Abstract: Over a quarter of the coastlines of Malaysia are subjected to various stages of coastal erosion. A national study in 1985 categorised the degree of coastal erosion to signify Critical (1), Significant (2) and Acceptable (3) conditions. More than two decades later, a micro level coastline studies was conducted. The integrated approach took into account all the sectoral activities affecting the coastal areas and gave due consideration to economic, social, environmental and ecological issues. The state-level Integrated Shoreline Management Plan (ISMP) developed a management tool to harmonise all the activities in the coastal area. The ISMP for the state of Melaka was completed in 2010. Over the past 20 years, there were rapid development along its coast especially land reclamation, offshore sand mining and river outlet works. This paper assessed and update the findings of both these studies to compare evolution of erosion and to develop the Coastal Vulnerability Index (CVI) to sea level rise for the Melaka coastline. The CVI takes into account the past and ongoing developments along the coast and the projected rates of sea level rise. Data for sea level rise was obtained from a study completed in 2010. The findings include Category I (critical) erosion areas where previously there were none in 1985 and improvement to coastal stability in some areas. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) method was adapted to determine the CVI rankings. Comparison between the CVI scores of 1985 and 2015 showed that 64% (51. 1km) of the Melaka coastline have increased vulnerability, 13% (10. 7km) have decreased vulnerability and 22% (17. 8km) were unchanged. The study provided a tool that may be adopted for other states in Malaysia
Year: 2017