Of Climate Change, Landslides and Tanarimba ...

We read once again of landslides in the Klang Valley. Tanarimba being as hilly as it is though less prone to landslides is at risk as well. Landslides are an inherent risk of any terrain that is steep enough for gravity to do its job. It would be naive for us to ignore this risk. We just have to deal with it.

Have you heard of statements like 'No lah, it has never happened in Tanarimba before' or 'The soil in Tanarimba is different'....? At times, lulling us into some false contentment or comfort.

However, we can deal with it. I think the most important first step to dealing with it is our honest acceptance of the risk. We need to accept that climate had indeed changed. The current extreme weather conditions will prevail or get worse. We can no longer rely on historical weather patterns to forecast the future. We have to plan for worse weather conditions than today when we build our houses in Tanarimba. We have to take extra care of the land that we will inhabit and respect the natural terrain. The engineers need to study the hydrological aspects of the land and suggest proper drainage systems. Clear-cutting of slopes will not work. Clearing the undergrowth or thinning the natural tree-cover will not work. Overbuilding the house structure will not work. Stopping or diverting a natural stream / river will not work.

It is indeed a challenge. However, I think while the risk is there in Tanarimba, the way it is currently planned, being a low density sustainable development and with the community working together to avert such risks, Tanarimba can work.