Socio-economic vulnerability of coastal communities in southern Thailand: the development of adaptation strategies

Abstract

Abstract. The tsunami of December 2004 impacted large areas of Thailand's coastline and caused severe human and economic losses. The recovery period revealed differences in the vulnerabilities of communities affected. An understanding of the causal factors of vulnerability is crucial for minimising the negative effects of future threats and developing adaptive capacities. This paper analyses the vulnerabilities and the development of adaptation strategies in the booming tourist area of Khao Lak and in the predominantly fishing and agricultural area of Ban Nam Khem through a comprehensive vulnerability framework. The results show that social networks played a crucial role in coping with the disaster. Social cohesion is important for strengthening the community and developing successful adaptation strategies. The development of tourism and the turning away from traditional activities have a significant positive influence on the income situation, but create a dependency on a single business sector. It could be shown that households generating their income in the tourism sector were vulnerable unless they had diversified their income previously. Income diversification decreased the vulnerability in the study areas. Adaptation strategies and processes developed in the aftermath clearly address these issues.

The unequal vulnerability of Kurdish and Azeri minorities in the case of the degradation of Lake Urmia, Iran

“…Trust and reciprocity in society, participation in community-based organizations and social networks have been shown to be important factors influencing coping capacity in other case studies (eg. Birkmann and Wisner 2006;Willroth et al 2012).…”

Coping and adaptation strategies and institutional perceptions of hydrological risk in an urban Amazonian city

“…Information on coping and adaptation strategies was procured during five focus-group discussions over the course of two months. The gatherings provided people with a structured opportunity to speak freely about issues pertinent to the research questions (Nyumba et al, 2018), revealing how they act when a flood materialises (Ramachandraiah, 2011;Willroth et al, 2012). The sample was composed of 32 individuals who accepted an invitation to take part in the activities.…”

Qualitative social vulnerability assessments to natural hazards: examples from coastal Thailand

“…Their field studies were based upon a set of qualitative methods like in-depth and semi-structured interviews and photointerpretation, which were partially linked with the results of quantitative approaches used for ecological vulnerability assessment. Willroth et al (2012) applied qualitative as well as quantitative methods to identify and analyze adaptation strategies in the context of the tsunami 2004 by applying the vulnerability framework by Turner et al (2003). Another study that successfully used this framework was conducted by Kaplan et al (2009).…”