Use of Vegetation and Natural Materials
Building with Nature in Indonesia Demak, Northern Java, Indonesia
Communities in Northern Java are suffering from coastal erosion affecting hundreds of kilometers of coastline. In some areas, more than 3 kilometers of land—including entire villages—have already been engulfed by the sea. Eventually, 30 million people in Indonesia may be affected by coastal erosion. As a solution to this problem, a stable coastline in Northern Java is being built through an innovative Building with Nature approach. This project, which was started in 2015 and is scheduled to conclude in 2020, has initiated the construction of permeable structures that help to establish a healthy sediment balance. Once the near-shore seabed level is sufficient, mangroves will establish naturally and will serve as another natural defense against further erosion. This project won The Vernufteling Award 2016, a prestigious Dutch engineering award for innovative engineering solutions in the Netherlands. On behalf of EcoShape, Wetlands International coordinates the initiative in partnership with the Indonesian Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, and Indonesian Ministry of Public Works and Human Settlements, the consultancy agency Witteveen + Bos, and others.
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