Coastal Vulnerability: A Brief Review on Integrated Assessment in Southeast Asia

Abstract

Coastal zones are an essential part of maintaining sustainability in the world. Coastal regions have gained importance due to various factors, including high ecological production, dense population, industry compatibility, waste disposal, leisure, transportation, and development of military strategies. Coasts are often on the move and must adapt while nature constantly works to maintain balance. Southeast Asia has gained prominence due to its rich ecosystem, high productivity, and densely populated coastal region. In light of this, the coastlines of Southeast Asia are threatened by various factors, including global climate change and human activities. These factors exacerbate the shoreline erosion, frequent catastrophic events, rising sea levels, and saltwater intrusion. Coastal management has become one of the most important challenges of the past decade. The coastal vulnerability index (CVI) was developed to identify and manage vulnerable locations along the coast. Thus, this review attempts to summarize coastal vulnerability in Southeast Asian based on journals and reports. Topics covered include: (1) introduction to coastal vulnerability, (2) methods for determining coastal vulnerability, (3) factors influencing coastal vulnerability (4) associated coastal vulnerability, (5) assessment gaps, and (6) further courses of action. Consequently, assessment of coastal vulnerability will support Southeast Asian coastal communities in guiding mitigation strategies to manage coastal threats in future climate change and urban development.