Adaptation responses to tidal flooding in Semarang, Indonesia

Tidal flood has been threatening Semarang for many years. It occurs periodically due to high tide. The flood has been raising many problems especially in Semarang coastal areas. The flood is worsened by sea level rise due to climate change and land subsidence caused by over exploitation of ground water and the load of constructions. Based on this condition, tidal flood in Semarang is predicted to broaden and inundate not only to the coastal areas, but also the outer coastal areas. This situation increases the risks of tidal flood. Adaptation is needed to respond and to reduce the vulnerabilities due to tidal flood. Moreover adaptation is also needed to react and to anticipate present and future effects of tidal flood. The study focused on two objectives : defining adaptation responses in order to deal with the negative effects of present tidal flood in Semarang and assessing the adaptive capacity in dealing with the increasing tidal flood. This is an exploratory case study based on primary and secondary data. The primary data were collected through observational study, questionnaire and semi structured interview. Literature review and contextual data from the Semarang city government were used to extract secondary data. A sample size of 110 was chosen with 60 questionnaires administered to the respondents of inhabitants in present inundated area, and 50 questionnaires administered to the respondents of inhabitants in predicted inundated area. The selection of respondents was based on purposive sampling methods. Semi structured interviews were conducted to Semarang Water Management Agency, Semarang Planning and Development Board, Semarang City Planning Agency, Head of District and Sub District Offices in present inundated areas. The findings of the study indicated that the tidal flood occurs periodically in 6 sub districts in Semarang and affects the social, economic and environmental problems of the inhabitants. The inhabitants have been suffering for more than 8 years. Usually the flood inundates 4 _ 9 times a month. Moreover whenever the flood occurs, it inundates within 24 hours with 0.5 meter height. The worst floods ever happen is when the flood occurs for 1 week and in 1 meter height. Together with the city government, the inhabitants in present inundated areas have been doing adaptation responses to deal with the effects of tidal flood. They develop some adjustments on their houses and on their neighbourhood areas. Meanwhile the city governments place the tidal flood management as a part of flood management in Semarang, which are also focused on dealing with river floods and local floods. The city governments develop planning, management, institutional and also physical measures to cope with the flood problems. Moreover the flood that is predicted will inundate broader areas of Semarang. The people in present and predicted inundated areas and the city government can prepare for the future tidal flood to cope with the expected effects. The ability of adaptation and coping with the future risk of tidal flood is assessed by their economic resources, information and skills, infrastructures, technology and access to resources. As being assessed, the people in present and predicted inundated areas and also the city government are prepared to respond to the future risks of tidal flood. However iii they still need to enhance their adaptive capacity especially in order to reduce the vulnerability of low income people. In summary, adaptation is needed to cope with the effects of tidal flood. The responses are reactive in responding to the present impacts. Meanwhile proactive and implementation of measures in advance to reduce future risks of tidal flood are needed. The ability of people and the city government in dealing with the increase tidal flood depends on their adaptive capacity. Consequently, vulnerability to tidal flood will be decreased by implementing adaptation responses to present impacts and enhancement of the adaptive capacity to react and to cope with future impact. This research leads to with recommendations to improve the adaptive capacity of the city government and the people to cope with the present and increasing tidal floods. The recommendations are developing Integrated Coastal Management with the aim to protect the coastal areas which in accordance with the Semarang spatial planning and the flood management. Furthermore building capacity for community and the city governments' staffs, initiating financial access for low income people to finance their adaptation responses, and develop financial scheme to fund the flood infrastructures. Keywords: Tidal flood, adaptation responses, adaptive capacity