Water as Leverage- Setting the scene for a call for action
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<strong>Water</strong> <strong>as</strong> <strong>Leverage</strong> <strong>for</strong> Resilient Cities Asia <strong>Setting</strong> <strong>the</strong> Scene <strong>for</strong> a Call <strong>for</strong> Action Content<br />
3.2 <strong>Water</strong> Issues<br />
Semarang h<strong>as</strong> a fluctuating<br />
co<strong>as</strong>tline, created by natural<br />
sedimentation and land harvesting<br />
by humans. The co<strong>as</strong>t w<strong>as</strong> <strong>for</strong>merly<br />
protected by mangrove <strong>for</strong>ests, but<br />
urbanization, harbor expansion and<br />
aquafarming caused <strong>the</strong>se <strong>for</strong>ests to<br />
decline, which in turn led to co<strong>as</strong>tal<br />
erosion, flooding and salinization.<br />
Due to <strong>the</strong> proximity of a small<br />
mountain range, Semarang’s rivers<br />
are very short, causing fl<strong>as</strong>h floods in<br />
<strong>the</strong> cyclonic se<strong>as</strong>on, but also limiting<br />
<strong>the</strong> access to potable rainwater. This<br />
pushes <strong>the</strong> growing population to<br />
extract more groundwater, but this<br />
causes severe land subsidence, at<br />
some places <strong>for</strong>ty times f<strong>as</strong>ter than<br />
sea level rise.<br />
Land subsidence is one<br />
of Semarang’s main<br />
water issues.<br />
248 SEMARANG<br />
<strong>Water</strong> Issues<br />
PART 2/Background In<strong>for</strong>mation on <strong>the</strong> Partner Cities<br />
249
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