LAND scarcity will always be a challenging issue in city-states like Singapore, Hong Kong or Macao. These city-states have the similarity of resorting to land reclamation, along with intensely high population density.

Around a quarter of Hong Kong and Singapore’s current land areas are reclaimed. With extra land, new townships are established and job opportunities increased, spurring the economic growth of city-states. However, not only cities with limited space reclaim land from the sea.

China, for example, is nowhere near being short of land, but to protect its arable land, other economic activities have been moved towards coastal cities. China has reclaimed some 13,380 sq km of coastal area up till 2008.

Besides the demand for land, the rest of the world is also reclaiming land for other purposes. One of it is to build aviation infrastructure, such as airports: Japan’s Kansai Airport, Singapore’s Changi Airport and South Korea’s Incheon Airport.

On the other hand, given that a large part of the Netherlands is below sea level, the country has built dykes to reclaim more than 7,000 sq km of land to save itself from flooding, and to provide more land for agriculture. It is also compulsory to replenish its shorelines with dykes and dunes every three to four years to prevent floods and soil erosion.

Japan has also turned sea areas into land, such as Rokko and Port Islands, to meet the need for deepwater ports and heavy industry.

These examples of land reclamation are for economic development. The convenience of coastal city to international trade has pulled in economic focus. Making more land here means making more money. Thus, these coastal cities are expanding physically for financial growth and to accommodate an increasing urban population.

Situated in one of the world’s busiest waterways, the Straits of Malacca, Penang has experienced intensive socio-economic development since its founding, and along with that, coastal reclamation.

Land reclamation began in Penang in the colonial era, at what is now known as Weld Quay. In the 1980s, when its manufacturing sector started to bloom, the Free Industrial Zone was created by reclaiming the coast at Batu Maung. Currently, an artificial coastline covers almost whole east coast of Penang Island. Upon the completion of the Sri Tanjung Pinang reclamation project, there will be two artificial islands in the north.

Additionally, there will be another three artificial islands in the south if the Penang South Reclamation project is approved. At the end of all these reclamation projects, the island will gain around 7% in new land.

Penang is facing similar challenges as city-states. Its land scarcity and increasing population have pushed the need to reclaim land, just like in Hong Kong and Singapore.

At the same time, we are placing development pressures on the heart of Penang – George Town – and we also have to protect the state’s pristine hills.

We are in dire need of new land. However, compared with the two Asian tigers that are heavily dependent on the service sector, Penang’s economy has a strong base in both the service and manufacturing sectors. The BBC even highlighted our potential as the next Silicon Valley.

Both the service and manufacturing sectors will create a lot more job opportunities, especially high-income jobs. These opportunities are imperative as Penang is the job hub for the northern region. Its current land availability is unlikely to support the momentum of the sectors in the future.

Along with that, the task to build more houses for the people in Penang is also no walk in the park. Various population projections point to between 1.98 million and 2.5 million people in the year 2030, with the state being fully urbanised. It seems like reclaiming land is one of the limited choices we have in facing development challenges.

In spite of these development pressures, will land reclamation be the only way out?

For the future of an island-state, land reclamation should not be the only solution to urbanisation and development woes in Penang.

Not only in Penang, but all over the world, the more important matter is to implement better and smarter land-use planning before land reclamation.

Land reclamation can be considered only as a last resort to limited land as it is a short-term fulfilment of needs. One of the recommended solutions for limited land is through infill development and brownfield redevelopment, by building extra housing units in existing areas that are underused.

Previously derelict and vacant parts of George Town, like Penang Times Square and heritage areas, have been redeveloped for commercial and tourism purposes. Another idea is to have properly planned township development that includes all sorts of facilities and infrastructure in a specific area. Areas that are less populated at the moment, like Nibong Tebal, Simpang Ampat, Gertak Sanggul, and Batu Maung, are the best spots for such township development, to encourage people to reside there.

Based on the high population projection for the future, having more affordable housing is necessary for these areas, as it will draw the attention of citizens. At the same time, creating more job opportunities and ecotourism spots in these areas will meet citizen’s demands and boost economic development.

Additionally, a compact building design for urban areas enables the city to grow vertically rather than horizontally, and thus, allows for the use of less land to build more. For example, Singapore’s compact high-rise public housing houses more than 80% of citizens.

Ideally, we should have a common goal for Penang, to determine what growth path we are pursuing, which then sets the framework for land-use planning. Having an idea of maximum built-up areas in the future, say in 2050, could help urban planners plan and work backwards.

This “backwards” planning can increase land use efficiency. In short, synergy between the government, town-planning experts and the public is needed to relieve development pressures on land use.

While life can be promising on reclaimed land, the livelihoods of fishermen and marine creatures deteriorate. Across the world, land reclamation has caused devastation to the marine and coastal ecosystem.

Take China as an example. Some of its laxly approved projects have caused so much environmental destruction, that the government decided to put a stop to commercial land reclamation this year, unless for infrastructure and national defence purposes.

Disregard for the environment is something we should all ponder on before going ahead blindly with unsustainable economic development. While environmental impact assessment reports can provide us with the site-specific consequences of land reclamation, several recurring issues recorded worldwide are also seen in the land reclamation projects in Penang.

In an interview with Sahabat Alam Malaysia, Ms Mageswari revealed the environmental and economic impact of reclamation, especially in Penang.

Firstly, when reclaiming land, seafloor sediments are disturbed. This is where benthic communities (worms, clams, crabs, shrimps) thrive. Hence, land reclamation destroys the benthic ecosystem that regenerates nutrients to the water column.

These benthic animals are also food for fish, birds and other invertebrates. As a result, the food chain breaks down, followed by cascading effects, which have been predicted to affect predator species, such as eagles.

Secondly, replacing mangrove-lined coastlines with hard artificial structure reduces land resilience against high waves and floods. According to the 2005 Penang Economic Report, the mangrove in the Pulau Betong area buffered the impact of the 2004 tsunami and protected the fishermen there.

The protection provided by mangroves is a form of ecosystem services. In China, the ecosystem services value of the natural coastal zone is a staggering 7.78 trillion renminbi. It includes water conservation, maintaining environmental quality, organic substances productivity, living and feeding grounds for fish and birds, recreation and tourism, and other services. Thirdly, in changing the landscape, habitat for wildlife is profoundly affected. The EIA study for the Penang South Reclamation Project showed that it would lead to the total loss of five turtle-landing sites, as well as flora and fauna.

It would be heart-wrenching to see these beautiful creatures replaced by concrete.

Finally, sand-dredging and filling activities during the process of reclamation can be very polluting, as well as increase siltation and turbidity, and alter the groundwater system when saltwater intrudes.

The socio-economic impact of coastal reclamation was of concern as well, said Ms Mageswari.

First, the livelihoods of fishermen are doomed if the authorities or developers fail to consider their plight. Land reclamation will destroy spawning and nursery ground for fish species.

Complaints on the reduction in catch have increased since land reclamation started off Tanjung Tokong. Reclamation work also restricts fishermen, who have to venture further out to fish, requiring bigger gear and equipment, thus, burdening them.

Reduced local catch and increased cost of fishing are not just localised issues, but affect all of us – our food security will be under threat.

Other than that, residents near project sites are also affected. Increased noise pollution and poorer air quality due to reclamation are a nuisance. The exposure to dust and debris particles threatens their health.

In pursuing economic growth and watching the environment deteriorate, it is a hard battle for all of us. Wiping out the natural environment for economic growth is ignorance, and so is stopping economic activities to protect the environment.

Sustainable development seeks a balance between the economic, social and environmental aspects. Thus, taking the path of

sustainable development is a big win for humans and the environment.

We cannot undermine the need for land in the future, considering Penang’s land scarcity issue. Therefore, steering current land-use planning to be more logical is crucial. If land reclamation is inevitable, even after a comprehensive plan on current land use, then the reclamation process must be planned to near perfection.

One study suggested reducing the areas for land reclamation, enhancing the structure of reclaimed land, developing the extra land using the “low-impact development” concept, and having an ecological compensation mechanism.

Furthermore, the present artificial coastline lacks both landscape diversity and biodiversity with its monotonous rock armour design, despite its practical use to keep erosion in check. Dr Chee Su Yin from Universiti Sains Malaysia explored the possibility of incorporating ecological engineering (eco-engineering) to transform the artificial shoreline.

By combining ecology knowledge with urban environment engineering design, it is possible to support both city growth and the conservation of biodiversity. Ecosystem functions can be rehabilitated using a hybrid approach involving both hard and soft infrastructure. For example, with long-term management, innovative artificial reefs can enhance fisheries and biodiversity.

Besides, designing a new coastline by rehabilitating seagrass and mangroves can protect the shore from eroding and wave energy. Dr Chee quoted examples from the New York Living Breakwater project and Bangladesh ECOBAS project – both created an artificial habitat for marine life and coastal rehabilitation. If these developed and developing countries already employ these technologies, we can definitely do the same. Nevertheless, these designs need continuous monitoring.

It is not easy to simulate or replace the natural environment. So, nature remains vital and irreplaceable in providing ecosystem services.

In the future, will the pathway of development still be restricted by land availability, although we know that land has its carrying capacity? We cannot afford to reclaim more land and islands every 50 years while losing the natural beauty of the state for the sake of keeping up with population growth and economic development.

We should start pondering on all possible ways, rather than this last resort, by incorporating ideas from various parties. Failed reclamation projects, such as the infamous Palm Island in Dubai, should serve as a lesson. Palm Island kindled

tourism and coastline expansion, but the short-term solution did not end up being a long-term prayer.

Currently, soil in the reclaimed land is eroding, causing it to sink and fall back slowly into the sea, halting all development plans. If reclamation has to proceed despite all considerations having been taken, land planners should design the reclaimed land properly, such as with more open green spaces rather than mere grey concrete jungle.

Setting a maximum reclamation limit for the year 2050 and allowing no more reclamation after that would be more sustainable and practical. With proper planning and implementation, land reclamation can earn its value in a slightly better way.

Putting that aside, the long-term impact of land reclamation must be considered over short-term economic demand. A decision made today should not be a lesson learnt tomorrow. So, let us all work together with the new government to achieve the sustainability balance that we seek. – August 27, 2018.

* Chow Mei Mei and Penang Green Council researcher Naventhan Ahrasan read The Malaysian Insight.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.