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Growing together in communities makes Indonesia more powerful
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Mangroves are planted by community members in Natuna, Riau Islands province.
I
ndonesia’s 76th Independence Day carries the theme “Indonesia Tangguh, Indonesia Tumbuh” (Powerful Indonesia, Growing Indonesia). The theme keeps the spirit of not giving up on creating a better tomorrow for Indonesia.
The spirit of Independence Day, on Aug. 17, is to reaffirm our understanding of the purpose of our country, where the realization of this spirit is reflected by activities implemented by the Mangrove and Peatland Restoration Agency (BRGM) since January of this year. The BRGM is tasked with facilitating the restoration of peatland, raising community welfare and accelerating the rehabilitation of mangrove ecosystems.
In the implementation of peatland restoration and mangrove rehabilitation, according to BRGM head, Hartono Prawiraadmadja, communities are involved directly “considering that they live around the ecosystem”.
On top of that, involving communities as implementors is designed to ensure the sustainability of the BRGM’s program. Communities are expected to continue the effort to safeguard the ecosystem once it is restored. Also, the policy aims to ensure that the communities can get direct benefits, not just an ecological recovery but economic benefits as well.
Hartono said the implementation of mangrove rehabilitation activities for 2021 involved 464 Community Groups (Pokmas), with each group having an average of 34 people, in North Sumatra, the Riau Islands, Riau, Bangka Belitung, West Kalimantan, North Kalimantan, East Kalimantan, Papua and West Papua.
For peatland restoration, about 1,155 communities are involved in constructing peatland wetting infrastructure (IPG) this year in Riau, Jambi, South Sumatra, West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, South Kalimantan and Papua.
The BRGM also collaborates with central government institutions, including the Environment and Forestry Ministry, the Office of the Coordinating Maritime Affairs and Investment Minister, the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry and the Villages, Disadvantaged Regions and Transmigration Ministry. Furthermore, the BRGM has also teamed up with provincial and district governments in targeted provinces.
Hartono acknowledged the challenges faced by BRGM personnel during the implementation of peatland restoration and mangrove rehabilitation but said it did not diminish their spirits in carrying out the task. “This spirit is the key to the success of peatland restoration and mangrove rehabilitation,” said Hartono.
To date, more than 3,981 hectares of mangroves have been planted and about 17,484 hectares of mangroves have been prepared, where ajir, mangrove seedling-supporting tools, have been installed. “This effort will further continue intensively until the target is achieved,” Hartono added.
A similar effort is also underway for peatland restoration, and the construction of IPG is in progress on site. Some 68 canal blocks have been constructed, and the remaining 700 canal blocks are currently being built by communities.
“To face the dry season, the BRGM has built 29 deep wells out of the target of 80 this year,” said Hartono.
Moreover, Hartono added, Independent Village Peatland Care associations had been providing training for communities, such as “Farming without burning” and “Women’s empowerment: Face mask production”.
