Research needed to map sea-levels
(Above) Infographics show how rising sea-levels will affect Brunei.
(Right) Mangrove forests being cleared to prevent flooding. As
sea-level rise, mangrove forests can relocate deeper inland.Picture: BT
file
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
ECOSYSTEMS along the national coastline need to be studied in-depth
in order to formulate policies to tackle rising sea-levels as a result
of climate change, said a researcher from Universiti Brunei Darussalam
(UBD).
Dr William John Duane, programme leader for Environmental Studies and Geography & Development, highlighted specific research opportunities in the country during an International Consortium of Universities for the Study of Biodiversity and the Environment (iCube) workshop in UBD.
He said that the research would help create policies on how Brunei should look to respond on the rise in sea-level in the not-to-distant future.
In an interview with The Brunei Times, he said there were some data available from a study done in 2002, but said that there could be more work done to make the information more complete as well as to create a more accurate map of ecosystems along the Brunei coast.
Dr Duane noted that with that information, it was possible to form very long-term policies on how to tackle eventual sea-level rise. "It is inevitable," he said, pointing out that as they know more about the effect of climate change.
In 2007, the fourth annual report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) which predicted sea-level rise (18 to 59 cm) by 2100 was heavily criticised to be too conservative, he said.
"It was unrealistic because it did not contain information from ice-melt as they did not understand much about it at the time," explained Dr Duane, noting that they had only used figures from how much the sea was going to rise based on the volume of water expanding due to increase in sea-temperature.
Studies made in 2009 and 2010 by other researchers predicted a rise of more than 100 cm and 200 cm respectively. "By 2014, the IPCC will be publishing their 5th report," he shared, noting that while he is not certain, he believed the number would probably be higher.
He said that the seventh point of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) was to aim for environmental sustainability as well as reduce the rate of biodiversity loss. For Brunei to achieve a "net-zero" biodiversity loss, it must first understand completely what it needs to replace in the event of rising sea-levels.
"For example, the mangrove forests," he said, noting that as the sea-level rises, it could allow mangrove forests to be created further in-land, replacing the ones that were lost. He said that research would help map out the areas which needs to be converted, taking into account ecosystems with many different species.
He noted that while there were many policy options available to the government, science should help make the government create informed decisions.
"It will not just be a matter of science, but also a matter of policy."
He pointed out the range of policy responses available to the government, ranging from reclamation of land to non-intervention, and said that research on coastal environments would help decide what can be used.
He explained that while areas such as Bandar Seri Begawan and other populated places will need to be protected by physical barriers, other areas might be better preserved through adaptation and allowing nature to take its course. "That needs to be researched," he said.
During the iCube workshop, one of the participants suggested that because Brunei is a small country, it might be possible to erect coastal protection for the entire coastline. Dr Duane said that it might be economically challenging as it would be a construction work of some 200-300 kilometres.
He later explained that it would also cause the loss of biodiversity, as coastal environments not protected by the wall would be lost. "The wall would stop the move of these environments further inland" he said, explaining it would create a reduction or an outright loss of those environments.
The Brunei Times
Dr William John Duane, programme leader for Environmental Studies and Geography & Development, highlighted specific research opportunities in the country during an International Consortium of Universities for the Study of Biodiversity and the Environment (iCube) workshop in UBD.
He said that the research would help create policies on how Brunei should look to respond on the rise in sea-level in the not-to-distant future.
In an interview with The Brunei Times, he said there were some data available from a study done in 2002, but said that there could be more work done to make the information more complete as well as to create a more accurate map of ecosystems along the Brunei coast.
Dr Duane noted that with that information, it was possible to form very long-term policies on how to tackle eventual sea-level rise. "It is inevitable," he said, pointing out that as they know more about the effect of climate change.
In 2007, the fourth annual report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) which predicted sea-level rise (18 to 59 cm) by 2100 was heavily criticised to be too conservative, he said.
"It was unrealistic because it did not contain information from ice-melt as they did not understand much about it at the time," explained Dr Duane, noting that they had only used figures from how much the sea was going to rise based on the volume of water expanding due to increase in sea-temperature.
Studies made in 2009 and 2010 by other researchers predicted a rise of more than 100 cm and 200 cm respectively. "By 2014, the IPCC will be publishing their 5th report," he shared, noting that while he is not certain, he believed the number would probably be higher.
He said that the seventh point of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) was to aim for environmental sustainability as well as reduce the rate of biodiversity loss. For Brunei to achieve a "net-zero" biodiversity loss, it must first understand completely what it needs to replace in the event of rising sea-levels.
"For example, the mangrove forests," he said, noting that as the sea-level rises, it could allow mangrove forests to be created further in-land, replacing the ones that were lost. He said that research would help map out the areas which needs to be converted, taking into account ecosystems with many different species.
He noted that while there were many policy options available to the government, science should help make the government create informed decisions.
"It will not just be a matter of science, but also a matter of policy."
He pointed out the range of policy responses available to the government, ranging from reclamation of land to non-intervention, and said that research on coastal environments would help decide what can be used.
He explained that while areas such as Bandar Seri Begawan and other populated places will need to be protected by physical barriers, other areas might be better preserved through adaptation and allowing nature to take its course. "That needs to be researched," he said.
During the iCube workshop, one of the participants suggested that because Brunei is a small country, it might be possible to erect coastal protection for the entire coastline. Dr Duane said that it might be economically challenging as it would be a construction work of some 200-300 kilometres.
He later explained that it would also cause the loss of biodiversity, as coastal environments not protected by the wall would be lost. "The wall would stop the move of these environments further inland" he said, explaining it would create a reduction or an outright loss of those environments.
The Brunei Times
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