Last updated: October 2021
A combination of green and grey coastal infrastructure is being developed off the coast of Semarang, Indonesia in response to the increased risk of coastal flooding as a result of sea-level rise (Ref. 1). Due to its geography as a coastal city, "Semarang deals with various physical challenges...such as tidal flooding, erosion, land subsidence and rising sea levels" (Ref. 1). Tidal flooding is becoming increasingly worse as a result of climate-induced sea-level rise and increasingly extreme weather events (Ref. 1 and 3). Coastal protection which was historically afforded by naturally occurring mangrove systems has been reduced as a result of the mangroves being largely lost to urbanisation, fish farming and other forms of agriculture (Ref. 2). One proposed sub-project of the Integrated Protective Coastal Zone, Coastal Balance Project 01: Coastal Balance Pilot in Genuk/Sayung, will focus on the northeast of Semarang. Using the 'Building with Nature' approach, it will leverage nature-based solutions through the deployment of green infrastructure, primarily focusing on mangrove restoration (Ref. 3). Mangrove restoration is hoped to stabilise the coastline, therein reducing erosion, encouraging sedimentation and increasing resilience against sea-level rise (Ref. 3).
Semarang Flood Risk as illustrated in the Semarang Resilience Strategy.
Semarang Resilience Strategy, https://resilientcitiesnetwork.org/downloadable_resources/Network/Semarang-Resilience-Strategy-English.pdf
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Blue infrastructure
- Coastlines
- Other
Key challenges
- Climate action for adaptation, resilience and mitigation (SDG 13)
- Climate change adaptation
- Climate change mitigation
- Water management (SDG 6)
- Flood protection
- Coastal resilience and marine protection (SDG 14)
- Coastal protection / hazard mitigation
- Marine and coastal biodiversity protection
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Habitat and biodiversity restoration
- Inclusive and effective governance (SDG 16)
- Inclusive governance
- Economic development and employment (SDG 8)
- Economic development: agriculture
- Tourism support
- Cultural heritage and cultural diversity
- Protection of historic and cultural landscape/infrastructure
Focus
Management and improved protection of rivers and other blue areas, Coastal landscape management or protection, Ecological restoration of ecosystems, Protection of natural ecosystems, Improved governance of green or blue areas
Project objectives
The Integrated Protective Coastal Zone project, in combination with an adjacent proposed pilot project, 'Water Neutral Industries', is considered to have numerous synergistic benefits associated with it (see Ref. 3). Those goals and benefits which are considered to have the potential to arise specifically in relation to the Integrated Protective Coastal Zone project are as follows (Ref. 3):
- Provide coastal protection against flooding, increasing coastal resilience and adaptive capacity;
- Reduce coastal erosion via sediment capture;
- Protect and enhance local biodiversity through improving marine habitat and restoring the coastal greenbelt, including for 28 mangrove species and 66 bird species;
- Support carbon capture via ecological preservation and restoration of mangrove coastline;
- Boost ecotourism and fisheries, enhancing the livelihood of communities and increasing food security;
- Provide opportunities for local and regional economic growth;
- Reduced operational disruption of a major logistics corridor for the industry as a result of reduced flooding;
- Secured cultural heritage and social values of historic communities on adjoining land; and
- Improved coastal governance process through the ecological transfer process.
Implementation activities
In combination with the development of grey infrastructure, mangroves are to be planted in the Semarang coastal zone with the intention of restoring the mangrove ecosystem which naturally occurred in the area. In combination, the 'Building with Nature' approach (Ref. 3) is considered an appropriate hybrid approach to reduce the impacts of climate change whilst simultaneously improving biodiversity.
Climate-focused activities
Climate change adaptation:
- Protect coastal and freshwater ecosystems to prevent coastal erosion and pollution
- Restore wetlands and/or coastal ecosystems to dissipate the effects of flooding and/or storms
Climate change mitigation:
- Increase green urban nature for carbon storage (wetlands, tree cover)
Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities
Biodiversity restoration:
- Rehabilitate and restore damaged or destroyed ecosystems
- Restore species (native, endangered, or unspecified)
- Restore native species
- Restore valued species
Main beneficiaries
- Local government/Municipality
- Citizens or community groups
- Food producers and cultivators (i.e. farmers, gardeners)
Governance
Management set-up
- Co-governance with government and non-government actors
Type of initiating organisation
- Multilateral organisation
- National government
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Co-planning (e.g. stakeholder workshops, focus groups, participatory mapping)
- Consultation (e.g. workshop, surveys, community meetings, town halls)
- Joint implementation (e.g. tree planting)
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
"The Special Envoy for International Water Affairs, Henk Ovink and the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs) have taken on the challenge of addressing water crises in urban areas. The programme Water as Leverage for Resilient Cities Asia is collaborating with the cit[y] of...Semarang (Indonesia) to tackle urban water-related challenges in an innovative and inclusive way" (Ref. 4). Having "invited internationally operating multidisciplinary teams to develop innovative, bankable and implementable design proposals", Water as Leverage has "entered a partnership with the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, the Dutch Development Bank FMO, 100ResilientCities, Partners for Resilience, Architecture Workroom Brussels, International Architecture Biennale Rotterdam and the Global Center on Adaptation. Furthermore, Water as Leverage for Resilient Cities Asia is supported by the UN/World Bank High Level Panel on Water" (Ref. 4). The project in Semarang is led by an architectural firm, Architecture One, in combination with Kota Kita, Deltares, Wetlands International, Sherwood Design Engineers, Hysteria Grobak, University of Pennsylvania, Iqbal Reza Fazlurrahman, Cindy Riswantyo, Nature Conservancy, Atelier Ten and Diponegoro University (Ref. 3). In developing the project, the team liaised with further stakeholders including representatives from the City of Semarang, the wider provincial and national government in addition to local residents and non-profit organisations (Ref. 3). These actors were engaged in sketch sessions, site visits and workshop sessions to "enable a collaborative stakeholder mapping session" (Ref. 3). Detailed under 'Next Steps' of Ref. 3, the team highlight that "Semarang City and other government entities have the authority to translate the...recommendations into requirements".
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
No
... a national policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a local policy or strategy?
Unknown
Financing
Total cost
Unknown
Source(s) of funding
- Unknown
Type of funding
- Other
Non-financial contribution
Unknown
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Climate change
- Increased protection against sea level rise
- Strengthened capacity to address climate hazards/natural disasters
- Enhanced carbon sequestration
- Environmental quality
- Improved soil quality
- Water management and blue areas
- Increased protection against flooding
- Enhanced protection and restoration of coastal and marine ecosystems
- Green space and habitat
- Increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems
- Reduced biodiversity loss
- Increased number of species present
Economic impacts
- More sustainable tourism
- Increase in agricultural production (for profit or not)
- Generation of income from NBS
Socio-cultural impacts
- Safety
- Improved community safety to climate-related hazards
- Social justice and cohesion
- Increased access to healthy/affordable food
- Cultural heritage and sense of place
- Protection of historic and cultural landscape / infrastructure
Type of reported impacts
Expected impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
No
Presence of indicators used in reporting
No
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
No
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No
References
1. Semarang City Government (2016). Resilient Semarang: Moving Together towards a Resilient Semarang. Semarang: Semarang City Government and 100 Resilient Cities. Source link [accessed 13/09/2021];
2. Water as Leverage (2018). City Report: Semarang, Indonesia. Amsterdam: Water as Leverage. Source link [accessed 13/09/2021];
3. Water as Leverage (2019). One Resilient Semarang: Water(shed) as Leverage. Volume II, Concept Design Proposals Final Report. One Architecture and Urbanism. Source link [accessed 13/09/21];
4. Netherlands Enterprise Agency (2019). Water as Leverage for Resilient Cities. Assen: Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Source link [accessed 15/09/21].
2. Water as Leverage (2018). City Report: Semarang, Indonesia. Amsterdam: Water as Leverage. Source link [accessed 13/09/2021];
3. Water as Leverage (2019). One Resilient Semarang: Water(shed) as Leverage. Volume II, Concept Design Proposals Final Report. One Architecture and Urbanism. Source link [accessed 13/09/21];
4. Netherlands Enterprise Agency (2019). Water as Leverage for Resilient Cities. Assen: Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Source link [accessed 15/09/21].
Semarang Coastal Balance Project 01, one of several sub-projects proposed within the Integrated Protective Coastal Zone project.
Source: One Architecture & Urbanism, https://issuu.com/one_architecture/docs/wal_final_report_raster_pages-m
Semarang Integrated Protective Coastal Zone Proposed Projects
Source: One Architecture & Urbanism, https://issuu.com/one_architecture/docs/wal_final_report_raster_pages-m
Information about this nature-based solution was collected as part of the UNA global extension project funded by the British Academy.