Monitoring of nature-based solution for stabilizing eroded muddy coastline of the Chao Phraya Delta, Thailand

Abstract

The Chao Phraya Delta (CPD), Thailand’s largest delta and low-lying muddy coast, has experienced shoreline recession for over six decades due to relative sea-level rise. A nature-based solution, bamboo fences, widely used in low-lying tropical areas, have been intensely applied along the CPD coastline during the last two decades. This study evaluated the effectiveness of bamboo fences in protecting eroded CPD coastlines using remote sensing data (aerial photographs, satellite imagery, and LiDAR observation data). Results from this study indicate that the effectiveness of bamboo fences in trapping sediment decreased over time due to the deterioration of bamboo, which generally deteriorates within four years. Additionally, the installation of multiple layers of bamboo fences did not directly increase the effectiveness of the structure in stabilizing the CPD coastline. It was also found that the mangrove shoreline can be successfully regenerated in the CPD coast where the seabed is higher than 0.5 m amsl. Because of the short life of the bamboo fences, the bamboo fence may not be the best solution for coastal protection and sustainable coastal management in a low-lying area with a high rate of shoreline recession and a low rate of sedimentation.