Universitas Indonesia (UI), through the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMIPA), provided real contributions to the community in Pahawang Village, Pesawaran Regency, Lampung, in the form of education about Nature-based Solutions (NbS). This is considered important as a strategic step in preserving mangrove forests. This community service program aims to improve the quality of the environment that is threatened by climate change, abrasion, and anthropogenic activities, such as illegal logging of mangrove forests, waste disposal, and the construction of cottages for tourism.
The FMIPA team involved in the “Program Literasi Masyarakat dan Penanaman Mangrove sebagai Nature-based Solution” (Community Literacy Program and Mangrove Planting as a Nature-based Solution) went to the field on July 22, led by Dr. Tito Latif Indra (field supervisor), with members Muhammad Attorik Falnsky, S.Si. and Bintang Mahakarya Sembahen, S.Si. (assistant lecturer); and students consisting of Satrio Rifqi Wicaksono, Azzikri, Ramaditya Dhamara Mukri, Damar Daffa Aulia, Ero Alvaro, Muhammad Haikal Mudzaki, Fajar Ramadhan, and Sthevi Fahdira.
NbS or nature-based solutions are a series of actions that utilize the power of nature to overcome social, environmental, and economic challenges. In this context, NbS is realized through planting mangroves to protect the coast from abrasion, preserve biodiversity, and increase community involvement and awareness in conservation efforts.
Tito said that the implementation of NbS is a strategic step in mitigating climate change and abrasion on Pahawang Island. “Currently, mangroves as a component of the blue carbon ecosystem play an important role in the carbon cycle, because they have a high carbon absorption capacity and protect coastal areas from abrasion. For this reason, education is provided so that the community is aware of the importance of the mangrove ecosystem, especially in preventing the decline in the area of mangrove forests, as well as improving the quality and sustainability of the mangrove forest ecosystem on Pahawang Island,” said Tito.
NbS for mangrove forests is carried out through several things, including coastal wetland conservation and restoration; community pond restoration; and the construction of sediment traps to form green belts as conservation areas. By maintaining mangrove forests, residents can use them as coastal protectors from floods and storms; guards of infrastructure and economic security; habitat for more than 25 billion young fish each year; and benefits for 37 commercial marine species, such as fish, crabs, bivalves, and shrimp.
In addition to providing education, on that occasion, the UI Community Service Team together with villagers also visited the mangrove planting location. They planted 50 mangrove seedlings in tidal areas with muddy sand substrates using simple planting tools, namely bamboo stakes and ropes.
The Secretary of Pahawang Village, Aristama, expressed his appreciation for this program. According to him, the mangrove planting program is very important for the sustainability of mangrove forest conservation in the village. “We need a lot of mangrove cultivation activities to protect Pahawang Island from the threat of abrasion. “With the support of the UI Community Service Team, this activity is expected to encourage Pahawang Island to become a successful example of sustainable mangrove ecosystem management that is beneficial in the long term for the environment and the community,” he said.
