Coastal land use changes around the Ulee Lheue Bay of Aceh during the 10-year 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami recovery process

The sudden changes in coastal land use around the Ulee Lheue Bay of Aceh due to the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami have greatly impacted the affected communities. Ten years of the tsunami recovery process, with assistance from international donors and the government of Indonesia, have also produced a number of learnings. This research is aimed at monitoring the recovery of coastal land use during 10 years of the recovery process and at investigating the influence of the recovery process on the community livelihood. After the completion of the formal rehabilitation and reconstruction process led by Aceh-Nias Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Agency (BRR Aceh-Nias), there has been no systematic process for monitoring the recovery process. Therefore, this paper is considered important for filling the gaps in understanding the mid-term recovery process. Spatio-temporal analysis and in-depth interviews were employed in this study. Quantum GIS was used to analyze eight satellite images of the coastal area around the Ulee Lheue Bay of Aceh. Twelve key respondents were interviewed and triangulated to understand the relation between the coastal land use changes and the community's livelihood. We found satisfactory recovery process rates for houses and paddy field areas. Meanwhile, ponds only recovered by about 19% during the 10-year recovery process. We also identify the need to immediately formulate integrated coastal zone management in the next phase of the recovery process.