Reforestation and Rehabilitation of Coastal Ecosystems in Yensawai Village, West Papua

West Papua
Sumber : Pegipegi

Protecting coastal ecosystems is very important to do. Therefore, rehabilitation is needed. One way to protect coastal ecosystems is to plant mangroves.

In accordance with the Minister of Forestry Regulation No.03/MENHUT-V/2004 Mangrove forest rehabilitation is an effort to restore the function of degraded mangrove forests, to conditions that are considered good and capable of carrying out ecological and economic functions.

The community of Yensawai Village, Raja Ampat Regency, West Papua has a complete coastal ecosystem. It has been the spirit to support their civilization of life for hundreds of years and has been managed from generation to generation with customs that are characteristic of the Papuan people in general.

The Center for the Study of Coastal and Marine Resources (PKSPL), Institute for Research and Community Service (LPPM) IPB University together with the Andoi Group (seagrass).  Korbon Group (mangroves), and the Coral Reef Ecosystem Management Group in Yensawai Village have accomplished the implementation of mangrove planting, seagrass and transplantation Coral reefs. This activity was done in West Yensawai and East Yensawai Villages, North Batanta District, Raja Ampat Regency, West Papua.

West Papua
Sumber : Trip Advisor

The Implementation of Rehabilitation

On March 11, 2021, PKSPL LPPM IPB University has formed a coastal ecosystem management group. It consists of three groups, namely the Coral Reef Ecosystem Management Group in Yensawai Village, Andoi Group in Yensawai Village and Korbon Group in Yensawai Village. 

The three groups work hand in hand to spread the positive vibes to the community regarding the importance of preserving coastal ecosystems for the sustainability of community life in Yensawai Village. In addition, the coastal ecosystem management group in Yensawai Village West Papua continues to take care of the embryonic pilots that have been made there, namely mangrove seedbed nurseries, seagrass and coral reef transplants.

Dadan Mulyana as PKSPL Team Leader explained that the planting of mangroves, seagrass and coral reef transplants is proof of PKSPL’s strong commitment in overseeing the program entrusted by the Ministry of National Development Planning/Bappenas, ICCTF and Coremap-CTI. The mangrove seedlings planted were the result of a nursery conducted by the Korbon Group, said him. It is the only village in Raja Ampat Regency West Papua that has a community-based mangrove seed nursery. This achievement is unable to be separated from the role of PKSPL IPB University in assisting them.

The First Time Seagrass Planting in Raja Ampat

The seagrass planting activity accomplished by the Andoi Group is the first time in Raja Ampat, West Papua

Muhammad Qustam Sahibuddin, one of the researchers at PKSPL IPB University, said that this activity is a form of community-based coastal ecosystem rehabilitation. It’s where the community has a significant role in guarding and maintaining the coastal ecosystem of Yensawai Village. Therefore, it remains sustainable. He also added it is hoped that in the future, Yensawai Village will become a pilot village in carrying out community-based coastal ecosystem rehabilitation activities and become a source village for mangrove seedlings for Raja Ampat Regency.

The Mangrove Planting Methods 

The number of mangrove propagules that were seeded was 10,000 with 6,180 seedlings planted. Meanwhile, the transplanted coral reefs as many as 1,600 seedlings and the seagrass planted as many as 1,500 clumps of seedlings.

The mangrove planting method uses three methods, namely fenced clumps, spaced clumps and korbon saplings. The korbon stake method is a collaborative method of local wisdom with an expert thinking. Meanwhile, for seagrasses using sprig anchor, hessian bag, and sprig unanchored methods. For transplantation of coral reefs they use the iron frame, ppc frame method, and rock file.

The PKSPL LPPM IPB University fostered group offered socialization to the community in order to support the success of planting mangroves, seagrass and coral reefs in Yensawai West and East Yensawai Villages. This socialization activity is aiming to answer the problems circulating among the people of West Yensawai Village and East Yensawai Village. Hopefully, this ecosystem rehabilitation and reforestation activity will continue so that natural ecosystem in West Papua—particularly in Yensawai Village remains sustainable.

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