Case Study

Prototypes of Fireflower have been used in assessing the geology and changing geomorphology of some tropical and temperate coastlines, and to collect all kinds of data related to these changes. The intention in these projects is always to develop the broadest picture of a coastal area and its integration with the hinterlands, to provide a basis to understand the past and hypothesize possible future trends.

Coastal Conservation, the North Coast of Java

Changes that occur as a consequence of the work of tides and currents, and the building of river deltas, inevitably change the biodiversity of coasts. Agriculture, forestry and fisheries, and the economies of the local populations change accordingly. The construction of ports, marinas, and the introduction of coastal fish farming can interact aggressively and synergistically with otherwise natural changes.

The Cisadane Delta, Java, is known to have once extended 75m seaward in 24 hours following a rain storm over its head-waters. New silt is quickly staked out by potential fish farmers for simple tidal ponds, seen in the picture in mid-background, while in the foreground other tidal ponds have become redundant, their usefulness being only a few years without scientific aquaculture. Mangrove forest used to cover the gentle 2 km tidal slope around Jakarta Bay before being felled to make way for fish ponds. However, new mangroves quickly appear on any accreting shores, indicated at the mid-upper right of the picture. Other mangroves line the bunds of some other ponds, centre of picture. These trees have been planted; they provide shade and detritus to young fish. Acid sulphate soils often develop after aeration and some are being limed, seen here at the lower left of the picture. Parts of the shoreline to the right of the picture (not seen), receded 2km between 1940 and 1995. Mangrove wood was used as a local fuel up until the 1980’s but has now been exhausted in most areas.

This project, over 4 years, involved assessment of changing fish stocks, fish catches, fish biodiversity in the sea and rivers, the loss of the coastal tidal forest, climate change, the hydrology of the coastal plain, and the pollution of water sources - rivers, creeks and drains. It included micro-changes in the distribution of human populations and in local agriculture and economies, and the influence of industrialization. It dealt with the extraction of water from peaty lowland areas (ex-mangrove soils) with a sinking land surface, intrusion of sea water and less production of potable water. It gave concern regarding the destruction of mangroves to make way for fish ponds on one hand and the resurrection of mangrove forest in areas of redundant fish ponds on the other, both funded simultaneously by the same international aid agencies.