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Yomiuri Shimbun
08-05-2025
- Science
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Indonesian Woman Turns to Mangroves to Fend off Rising Tides
Reuters Pasijah holds mangrove seedlings. Photos were taken in the submerged hamlet of Rejosari Senik, Demak regency, Central Java Province, Indonesia, on Feb. 19 and 20. DEMAK, Indonesia (Reuters) — Pasijah, a 55-year-old housewife in Indonesia's Central Java Province, wakes up every morning to the sound of the sea. If that sounds idyllic, it is anything but. Her home is the only one remaining in this part of Rejosari Senik, a small village on Java's northern coast that was once on dry land but is now submerged in water. Over the past few years, Pasijah's neighbors have abandoned their homes, vegetable plots and rice fields to the advancing sea, but she and her family have no plans to leave. 'I do have every intention to stay here and my feelings for this house remain,' she told Reuters in February. Reuters Pasijah plants mangrove seedlings. Water laps around the walls of Pasijah's house, where she has lived for 35 years, soaking her feet when she steps outside. Fenced by haphazard rows of bamboo and a broken power pole, inside the floor has been raised to keep it above the sea. The nearest land is two kilometers away and the closest city, Demak, further still at 19 kilometers. The only way to get there is by boat. Indonesia, an archipelago of thousands of islands, has about 81,000 kilometers of coastline, making it particularly vulnerable to rising seas and erosion. Sea levels on the country's coasts rose an average of 4.25 millimeters annually from 1992 to 2024, but the rate has accelerated in recent years, Kadarsah, a climate change official at Indonesia's Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysical Agency, told Reuters. 'One of the signs of climate change is the rising sea levels,' he said, adding that some small islands had disappeared. Reuters A drone view of the house belonging to Pasijah Kadarsah also pointed to increased pumping of groundwater that has exacerbated land subsidence along Java's northern coast. The problem is particularly bad in Jakarta, Indonesia's capital, which is home to some 10 million people. Indonesian authorities have turned to mega projects for a solution, including a 700 kilometer sea wall that would run along the northern coast between Banten and East Java Provinces. Pasijah and her family, meanwhile, have turned to nature. She has planted some 15,000 mangrove trees a year over the past two decades. Every day, she paddles out in a boat made from a blue plastic barrel to tend to the bushes and plant new saplings, lowering herself into the blue-gray water, which can be as high as her chest. 'The flood waters come in waves, gradually, not all at once,' Pasijah said. 'I realized that after the waters began rising, I needed to plant mangrove trees so that they could spread and protect the house, from the wind and the waves.' Reuters A house damaged by flooding from coastal erosion and land subsidence She and her family survive by selling the fish caught by her sons in the nearest market. They say they will stay as long as they can hold back the tides. 'I'm no longer concerned about how I feel about the isolation here since I decided to stay, so we'll take it one hurdle at a time,' Pasijah said.
Al Jazeera
24-04-2025
- Climate
- Al Jazeera
Photos: Indonesian family turns to mangrove trees to tackle climate change
Pasijah, a 55-year-old housewife in Indonesia's Central Java province, wakes up every morning to the sound of the sea. If that sounds idyllic, it is anything but. Her home is the only one remaining in this part of Rejosari Senik, a small village on Java's northern coast that was once on dry land but is now submerged in water. Over the past few years, Pasijah's neighbours have abandoned their homes, vegetable plots and rice fields to the advancing sea, but she and her family have no plans to leave. 'I do have every intention to stay here and my feelings for this house remain,' she said. Water laps around the walls of Pasijah's house, where she has lived for 35 years, soaking her feet when she steps outside. The nearest land is two kilometres (1.24 miles) away, and the closest city, Demak, is further still at 19 kilometres (11.8 miles). The only way to get there is by boat. Indonesia, an archipelago of thousands of islands, has about 81,000 kilometres of coastline, making it particularly vulnerable to rising seas and erosion. Sea levels on the country's coasts rose an average of 4.25 millimetres (0.16 inches) annually from 1992 to 2024, but the rate has accelerated in recent years, according to Kadarsah, a climate change official at Indonesia's Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysical Agency. 'One of the signs of climate change is the rising sea levels,' he said, adding that some small islands had disappeared. Kadarsah also pointed to the increased pumping of groundwater that has exacerbated land subsidence along Java's northern coast. The problem is particularly bad in Jakarta, Indonesia's capital, which is home to some 10 million people. Indonesian authorities have turned to megaprojects for a solution, including a 700-kilometre (434-mile) sea wall that would run along the northern coast between Banten and East Java provinces. Pasijah and her family, meanwhile, have turned to nature. She has planted about 15,000 mangrove trees a year over the past 20 years. Every day, she paddles out in a boat made from a blue plastic barrel to tend to the bushes and plant new saplings, lowering herself into the blue-grey water, which can be as high as her chest. 'The floodwaters come in waves, gradually, not all at once,' Pasijah said. 'I realised that after the waters began rising, I needed to plant mangrove trees so that they could spread and protect the house from the wind and the waves.' She and her family survive by selling the fish caught by her sons in the nearest market. They say they will stay as long as they can hold back the tides. 'I'm no longer concerned about how I feel about the isolation here since I decided to stay, so we'll take it one hurdle at a time,' Pasijah said.
Wales Online
22-04-2025
- Wales Online
Two strong earthquakes hit large country popular with British tourists
Two strong earthquakes hit large country popular with British tourists The two quakes were recorded at 6.6 and 5.7 magnitude A file image taken from one of the islands in the northern tip of Indonesia (Image: Getty ) A nation visited by hundreds of thousands of UK tourists each year has been hit by a 6.6 magnitude earthquake. The quake in the northern-most part of Indonesia was confirmed by the local Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysical Agency (BMKG). It struck at around 10.17pm local time. The quake's centre was pinpointed at 95km northeast of Melonguane, within the Talaud Islands Regency in North Sulawesi province, the Express reports. According to Michigan Tech, earthquakes of this severity happen about 100 times a year across the world. The site says that quakes of this magnitude "may cause a lot of damage in very populated areas", atlhough these appear to be more remote. Article continues below The BMKG said that despite the sizeable tremor, there was no cause for tsunami concerns. The agency said in a statement: "An earthquake has occurred with magnitude: 6.6 SR, 95 km NorthEast KEP-TALAUD-SULUT, at: 22-Apr-25 10:17:17 UTC, No TSUNAMI threat (This event has been reviewed by a seismologist.)" Meanwhile, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) also detected a separate incident, a 5.7 magnitude earthquake, approximately 141km south-southwest of Banjar, West Java. Both earthquakes appear to have had little impact, with neither resulting in casualties nor notable damage to infrastructure, suggesting they were of a weaker intensity. Article continues below Indonesia sees large numbers of Brit tourists every year, as well as from other countries. According to Statista, around 335,209 visited from the UK in 2023.
Yahoo
19-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Indonesian woman turns to mangroves to fend off rising tides
By Ajeng Dinar Ulfiana DEMAK, Indonesia (Reuters) - Pasijah, a 55-year-old housewife in Indonesia's Central Java province, wakes up every morning to the sound of the sea. If that sounds idyllic, it is anything but. Her home is the only one remaining in this part of Rejosari Senik, a small village on Java's northern coast that was once on dry land but is now submerged by water. Over the past few years, Pasijah's neighbours have abandoned their homes, vegetable plots and rice fields to the advancing sea, but she and her family have no plans to leave. "I do have every intention to stay here and my feelings for this house remain," she told Reuters in February. Water laps around the walls of Pasijah's house, where she has lived for 35 years, soaking her feet when she steps outside. Fenced by haphazard rows of bamboo and a broken power pole, inside the floor has been raised to keep it above the sea. The nearest land is two kilometres (1.24 miles) away and the closest city, Demak, further still at 19 kilometres. The only way to get there is by boat. Indonesia, an archipelago of thousands of islands, has about 81,000 km of coastline, making it particularly vulnerable to rising seas and erosion. Sea levels on the country's coasts rose an average of 4.25 millimetres annually from 1992 to 2024, but the rate has accelerated in recent years, Kadarsah, a climate change official at Indonesia's Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysical Agency, told Reuters. "One of the signs of climate change is the rising sea levels," he said, adding that some small islands had disappeared. Kadarsah also pointed to increased pumping of groundwater that has exacerbated land subsidence along Java's northern coast. The problem is particularly bad in Jakarta, Indonesia's capital, which is home to some 10 million people. Indonesian authorities have turned to mega projects for a solution, including a 700 kilometre sea wall that would run along the northern coast between Banten and East Java provinces. Pasijah and her family, meanwhile, have turned to nature. She has planted some 15,000 mangrove trees a year over the past two decades. Every day, she paddles out in a boat made from a blue plastic barrel to tend to the bushes and plant new saplings, lowering herself into the blue-grey water, which can be as high as her chest. "The flood waters come in waves, gradually, not all at once," Pasijah said. "I realised that after the waters began rising, I needed to plant mangrove trees so that they could spread and protect the house, from the wind and the waves." She and her family survive by selling the fish caught by her sons in the nearest market. They say they will stay as long as they can hold back the tides. "I'm no longer concerned about how I feel about the isolation here since I decided to stay, so we'll take it one hurdle at a time," Pasijah said.
Reuters
18-04-2025
- Climate
- Reuters
Indonesian woman turns to mangroves to fend off rising tides
DEMAK, Indonesia, April 19 (Reuters) - Pasijah, a 55-year-old housewife in Indonesia's Central Java province, wakes up every morning to the sound of the sea. If that sounds idyllic, it is anything but. Her home is the only one remaining in this part of Rejosari Senik, a small village on Java's northern coast that was once on dry land but is now submerged by water. The Reuters Tariff Watch newsletter is your daily guide to the latest global trade and tariff news. Sign up here. Over the past few years, Pasijah's neighbours have abandoned their homes, vegetable plots and rice fields to the advancing sea, but she and her family have no plans to leave. "I do have every intention to stay here and my feelings for this house remain," she told Reuters in February. Water laps around the walls of Pasijah's house, where she has lived for 35 years, soaking her feet when she steps outside. Fenced by haphazard rows of bamboo and a broken power pole, inside the floor has been raised to keep it above the sea. The nearest land is two kilometres (1.24 miles) away and the closest city, Demak, further still at 19 kilometres. The only way to get there is by boat. Indonesia, an archipelago of thousands of islands, has about 81,000 km of coastline, making it particularly vulnerable to rising seas and erosion. Sea levels on the country's coasts rose an average of 4.25 millimetres annually from 1992 to 2024, but the rate has accelerated in recent years, Kadarsah, a climate change official at Indonesia's Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysical Agency, told Reuters. "One of the signs of climate change is the rising sea levels," he said, adding that some small islands had disappeared. Kadarsah also pointed to increased pumping of groundwater that has exacerbated land subsidence along Java's northern coast. The problem is particularly bad in Jakarta, Indonesia's capital, which is home to some 10 million people. Indonesian authorities have turned to mega projects for a solution, including a 700 kilometre sea wall that would run along the northern coast between Banten and East Java provinces. Pasijah and her family, meanwhile, have turned to nature. She has planted some 15,000 mangrove trees a year over the past two decades. Every day, she paddles out in a boat made from a blue plastic barrel to tend to the bushes and plant new saplings, lowering herself into the blue-grey water, which can be as high as her chest. "The flood waters come in waves, gradually, not all at once," Pasijah said. "I realised that after the waters began rising, I needed to plant mangrove trees so that they could spread and protect the house, from the wind and the waves." She and her family survive by selling the fish caught by her sons in the nearest market. They say they will stay as long as they can hold back the tides. "I'm no longer concerned about how I feel about the isolation here since I decided to stay, so we'll take it one hurdle at a time," Pasijah said.
