The Efficacy of Coastal Road Development to Protect West Coast of Jepara from Abrasion and Future Sea Level Rise

Abstract

This study examines the discourse of developing a coastal road as a solution to protect the western coast of Jepara in the long term from the threat of coastal hazards and climate change. Therefore, attempts to understand the coastal conditions of Jepara in the past, present and future are critical. This study shows the abrasion in the region is inseparable from the history of this area which was formed by the material deposition of Mount Muria. At present, the coastal conditions particularly in Kedung and Tahunan Districts are very prone to abrasion. A result of the Digital Shoreline Analysis System over the last two decades (2001-2020) showed a shift on Kedung District’s coastline ranging from 78-701 meters landward, while it was about 1.4-36.8 meters landward and 10.3-34.5 meters to the seaward in Tahunan District. Analysis of land cover and land use show that most of the loss of land due to abrasion were ponds, rice fields, and settlements. Sea level rise will exacerbate this condition. With the projection of global sea level rise which increase by 21 cm in 2060 and by 53 cm in 2100, ponds, irrigated rice fields and settlements in this region will be submerged with an economic loss of IDR 2.97-3.06 trillion or nearly to USD 205 million. Our study concludes that the construction of coastal road will not provide much of the expected protection function, unless the development of supporting infrastructure, especially polders, and several other supporting options, are developed in an integrated manner.