Coastal erosion is a serious problem in Thailand nowadays. The impacts of coastal
erosion on the flat and low-lying Gulf area are expected to be high. The sediment supply
to the coasts in the Upper Gulf of Thailand, including Bang Khun Thian district in
Bangkok, has been decreasing because of dam constructions, combined with relative sealevel
rise (subsidence) due to excessive ground water extraction. The loss of coastal land
significantly affects the livelihood of the local people. At present, the Bangkok boundary
mark at Bang Khun Thian district is already submerged. The mark was made taller by the
Bangkok Metropolitan Administration afterwards. Over the past 28 years, coastal erosion
has decreased the shoreline by 4-800 meters, at the rate of 20-25 meters per year. Two
villages in Bang Khun Thian, whose major economic activities are shrimp and blood
cockle farming, have been affected by coastal erosion.
This study aims to determine households’ adaptation strategies to address coastal
erosion/flooding. It entailed a site visit, discussion with the local people, literature review,
and a household survey. The results indicate that households have individually applied
three types of autonomous adaptation strategies, which are (1) protection (e.g., stone
breakwaters, bamboo revetments, and dike heightening), (2) retreat, and (3)
accommodation. Of these, protection is the most popular. Each household had applied
more than one adaptation option.