Planting and Managing Mangroves along Coastal Areas of Kulon Progo

 
Planting Mangrove by All Stakeholders

Planting Mangrove by All Stakeholders, Jangkaran village, Temon sub-district, Kulonprogo District, Yogyakarta Province, Indonesia © Damar Foundation 2012, 2012

Objectives

Long-term objective

To make people aware that mangrove forests can reduce disaster risks and the protect the livelihood of the surrounding communities

Short-term Objective

  1. To introduce and to plant mangrove to save the coastal line and to increase people economy life.
  2. To organize people and to improve people capacity in managing mangrove forest.

Background

Kulon Progo is located in the southern part of Yogyakarta Special Province that faces directly to the Indies Ocean. The regency is often threatened by flood and tsunami especially the four Sub-districts, i.e.  Temon, Wates, Panjatan and Galur. Flood that happens, especially in Temon Sub-district, is caused by the water flow of Bogowonto river that is blocked by the high sediment  in the creek of the river, while tsunami occurs because of the high waves of the Indie Ocean.

There are not any  comprehensive efforts done by the Regency government and by other stakeholders to avoid the annual disaster except by building the dumping stone to protect the coast  against the waves and tsunami. For a while, the dumping stone quite functions well and useful for the fishermen that can increase the gained fish and useful for the shrimp ponds along the beach. But unfortunately, the block and sediment in the creek of Bogowonto river  have negative impacts for the farmers in near the beach who grow commercial crops like melon and chili. Up to now there is not any significant solution that satisfies the both sides (fishermen and crops farmers) who live on the beach of Kulon Progo and Purworejo Regency.

Planting and managing mangrove in the beach, especially in the creek of Bogowonto river, will surely give some advantages like protecting the beach from tsunami (natural surrounding); providing habitat for planktons as the food of fish, crabs (conservation),  and to improve the people livelihood (economy) through many activities to earn living. It is hoped that in the long term, the existence of the mangrove forest will give great advantages for both the people of Kulon Progo and Purworejo Regencies. 

Although scare mangrove can be found in the southern Java beach, it does not mean that mangrove cannot be cultivated in the area. With special treatment, mangrove can be cultivated in the southern beach of Kulon Progo like in the creek of Bogowonto. Through the experimental areas, it shows that raising mangrove can reach in broader areas.  

Target beneficiaries

Target group of the benefit receivers is a group of community with means of livelihood as farmers,fisherman, fish (and shrimp) farme

  1. The building of the activity of mangrove forest management

  2. The building of the area of mangrove forest.

Outputs

  1. The building of the activity of mangrove forest management
  2. The building of the area of mangrove forest.

Accomplishments and challenges

The condition of the river of Bogowonto consists of lamun desert,  coastal plants and mangrove. In the lamun desert the coastal grass and a kind of pandanus plant, and only some small cactuses which, still,  cannot stabilize the physical environment of the creek. The plants that are mostly found in the beach are casuarinas, coconut and others which are not taken care of. Meanwhile there are two kinds of mangrove, they are  Rizhopora (Rhizopora macrophila) and Api-api (Avicennia sp.), nipah (Nypa fruticans). The condition of the plants have not completely covered the conservation area.

The physic nature of the water, like the water salinity, temperature and sediment in the creek of Bogowonto vary and according to the monsoon (climate). The condition of the water salinity will change in accordance with the climate, in the dry season the water in the creek will be saltier than at the beginning of the rainy season. The change will cause the habitant of any certain season to move to any area with any suitable water salinity condition. The change of the temperature also influences the climate and water condition.   

During the dry season the water surface gets sallower because of the high evaporation, as a result the salt level is getting higher (hipersaline). The problem of the sedimentation in the creek becomes a big problem because it comprises a lot of issues (social, culture, economy, ecology, etc). The sediment can reach 4 meters high, as a result it exceeds the revetment of the two river banks. It disturbs the flow of the water of the river even only stagnates. It also causes flood in the surrounding area of the creek of Bogowonto and causes a lot of loses of the people because of the drowning of the farm land and the fish and shrimp ponds. The condition is also getting worse because of the struck of the big waves of Indies Ocean.    

In the context of the national policy, the real condition of the surrounding Bogowonto creek should be given more attention by the government in order that the people can be saved from the disaster of flood and tsunami. It comprises the constitutional mandate in terms of the preventing disaster Clause 4 (a) that says that the disaster prevention is meant to give safety to the people from the disaster.

Therefore, the project of growing mangrove can be one of the efforts that can anticipate and minimize the tsunami disaster or flood that can happen in the Bogowonto creek. Despites, planting mangrove is closely related to the national policy in terms of forestry. According to the Law No. 4 Year 199 about Forestry it is stated that mangrove comprises the forest ecosystem, and, therefore, the government has responsibility to manage it on the basis of the advantage and safety, democracy, justice, togetherness, transparency and comprehensive (Clause 2). As a  result in relation to the bad condition of the mangrove, to all owners, managers and for those who take advantage of the critical forest or production, must do a forest rehabilitation in accordance with the objective of keeping conservation (Clause 4).

In relation to this, the Forestry Department technically and functionally hold the function of the government and development by using forestry approach to keep, preserve and develop the roest ecosystem from the hilly area to the coastal area in the water flow area, including the social structure. Therefore the target  of the Forestry Department in managing the mangrove forest is to build the social and physical infrastructure both in the state and private forest. Accordingly,  in working as the function, the Forest Department as the structure needs supporting needs i.e. technology that bases on the marine approach (as the infrastructure) which will, later on, be implemented in the form of the coastal design.   

By observing the condition of Jangkaran Village it is relevant that planting mangrove will be one of the ways to minimize the threaten of flood and tsunami disaster that can cause the loss not only for one but also the surrounding villages in the area of flowing water of Bogowonto river.   

Contributions to cross-cutting themes

This project has something to do with plant cultivation and disasters, i.e. flood and tsunami. Disaster can befall anyone, both women and men. Therefore, this project positions both women and men in an equal social and cultural position. The step to involve women is done by doing things some of which are  improving women and making the bigger access to resources. Women are involved in every activity of the project so that they can colour all processes. The point is that women should actively take on ”the roles” regarded as men’s ”area.” This will change or, at least, affect the community’s opinion about women’s capability.

Project Facts

Country

Location

Jangkaran village, Temon sub-district, Kulonprogo district, Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta Province, Indonesia

Topic

Duration

27th Aug 2012 to 27th Apr 2013

MFF Grant Amount

USD 25,000

Co-financing Partner

Damar Foundation USD 2,960

Implementing Partner

  • Saptono Tanjung

Ngentak RT 15/06, Ngestiharjo, Wates, Kulon Progo. 55651.

Mobile:  +6281 328 556 931

Email: tanjung. saptono@yahoo.co.id

  • Yuli Nugroho

Jl. Cendrawasih No. 10, Demangan Baru, Depok, Sleman, Yogyakarta 55281

Mobile: +628122766105

Email : nugroho.yuli@yahoo.co.id   

  • Tri Apriyadi

Wonosidi Kidul RT 69, RW 32, Wates,  Wates, Kulon Progo 55611

Mobile: +628156857363

Email : kapri_mgl@yahoo.com

Related Images

  • Update Progress of SGF Project Q1 (Agustus - October) 2012 of Damar Foundation

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