160
M. Kasim
At present, the influence of climate change has truly become one thing that is very
prominent in several coastal areas of Indonesia, especially in Eastern Indonesia.
Climate change can affect coastal areas in various ways. Beaches are sensitive
to sea level rise, changes in frequency and intensity of storms, increased rainfall,
and warmer ocean temperatures. In addition, the increased concentration of carbon
dioxide (CO 2 ) in the atmosphere causes the ocean to absorb more gas and become
more acidic. This increase in acidity can have a significant impact on coastal and
marine ecosystems. There is evidence of an increase in the intensity or frequency
of many extreme events such as floods, soil erosion, heat waves, tropical cyclones,
high rainfall, tornadoes, drought, storm surges, salinity intrusion, etc., which causes
the loss of cultivation areas, damage to the land where fishermen live, increases the
scarcity of sources of fish and shrimp seedlings, the destruction of several settlements, decreases production of fisheries and cultivation, increases the management
costs of fisheries management and the emergence of diseases, etc., (USAID 2018).
The impact of climate change tends to exacerbate the problems that have been faced
in coastal areas. Facing existing challenges that affect man-made infrastructure and
coastal ecosystems, such as shoreline erosion, coastal flooding, and water pollution,
has become a concern in many areas. Overcoming additional pressures from climate
change may require new approaches to managing land, water, waste, and ecosystems.
The results of our research in Southeast Sulawesi indicate that there are several
main impacts of this climate change that not only have an impact on reducing fisheries
production, but also have an impact on the social life and demographics of the community. Some of the real impacts that have occurred include drought, extreme rain,
seasonal pattern changes, rising sea levels, rising temperatures, and strong winds.
Some events that occur as a result of climate change can be seen in several locations
in Southeast Sulawesi as given in the Table 8.1.
The conditions described in the table above, although not evenly distributed, have
strong evidence in several regions in Southeast Sulawesi. It is possible to see that the
availability of resources has not been fully affected in general. The clear indicator can
be seen from the socioeconomic conditions of the coastal communities of Southeast
Sulawesi, most of which continue to operate as usual, even though in some regions
there are specifications for environmental changes that have an impact on reducing
seaweed production or coral bleaching.
The three main ecosystems in Southeast Sulawesi that include coral reefs,
mangrove forests, and seagrass habitats are allegedly affected by climate change.
In 2009–2010, there were 85% coral reefs in Buton district, especially in the three
West Coast waters, South Coast waters, and Wakatobi waters which were bleached
due to the increase in temperature which occurred evenly at depths of up to 5 m. This
condition then recovers gradually, even though some locations provide a picture that
cannot recover with a tightly covered macroalga. There is no strong evidence in the
Southeast Sulawesi region that climate change really has a bad influence on the level
of people’s economic life. Except for a number of indicators, there is a decrease
in catch due to the more distant current fishing area (COREMAP II 2009; CRITC
COREMAP–LIPI 2016a).
M. Kasim
At present, the influence of climate change has truly become one thing that is very
prominent in several coastal areas of Indonesia, especially in Eastern Indonesia.
Climate change can affect coastal areas in various ways. Beaches are sensitive
to sea level rise, changes in frequency and intensity of storms, increased rainfall,
and warmer ocean temperatures. In addition, the increased concentration of carbon
dioxide (CO 2 ) in the atmosphere causes the ocean to absorb more gas and become
more acidic. This increase in acidity can have a significant impact on coastal and
marine ecosystems. There is evidence of an increase in the intensity or frequency
of many extreme events such as floods, soil erosion, heat waves, tropical cyclones,
high rainfall, tornadoes, drought, storm surges, salinity intrusion, etc., which causes
the loss of cultivation areas, damage to the land where fishermen live, increases the
scarcity of sources of fish and shrimp seedlings, the destruction of several settlements, decreases production of fisheries and cultivation, increases the management
costs of fisheries management and the emergence of diseases, etc., (USAID 2018).
The impact of climate change tends to exacerbate the problems that have been faced
in coastal areas. Facing existing challenges that affect man-made infrastructure and
coastal ecosystems, such as shoreline erosion, coastal flooding, and water pollution,
has become a concern in many areas. Overcoming additional pressures from climate
change may require new approaches to managing land, water, waste, and ecosystems.
The results of our research in Southeast Sulawesi indicate that there are several
main impacts of this climate change that not only have an impact on reducing fisheries
production, but also have an impact on the social life and demographics of the community. Some of the real impacts that have occurred include drought, extreme rain,
seasonal pattern changes, rising sea levels, rising temperatures, and strong winds.
Some events that occur as a result of climate change can be seen in several locations
in Southeast Sulawesi as given in the Table 8.1.
The conditions described in the table above, although not evenly distributed, have
strong evidence in several regions in Southeast Sulawesi. It is possible to see that the
availability of resources has not been fully affected in general. The clear indicator can
be seen from the socioeconomic conditions of the coastal communities of Southeast
Sulawesi, most of which continue to operate as usual, even though in some regions
there are specifications for environmental changes that have an impact on reducing
seaweed production or coral bleaching.
The three main ecosystems in Southeast Sulawesi that include coral reefs,
mangrove forests, and seagrass habitats are allegedly affected by climate change.
In 2009–2010, there were 85% coral reefs in Buton district, especially in the three
West Coast waters, South Coast waters, and Wakatobi waters which were bleached
due to the increase in temperature which occurred evenly at depths of up to 5 m. This
condition then recovers gradually, even though some locations provide a picture that
cannot recover with a tightly covered macroalga. There is no strong evidence in the
Southeast Sulawesi region that climate change really has a bad influence on the level
of people’s economic life. Except for a number of indicators, there is a decrease
in catch due to the more distant current fishing area (COREMAP II 2009; CRITC
COREMAP–LIPI 2016a).