Community Efforts to Restore Bengkalis Mangroves

In Desa Kelapapati, Bengkalis Regency, Riau Province, the local community group 'Parit Segagah' (written as Paghet Seghaghah in local Melayu) has dedicated over a decade to restoring and protecting mangrove forests. Rio Fernandes, one of the key figures in this movement, spoke with emotion, recalling the efforts of his late friend, Samsul Bahri. They began with nothing but pure passion and courage, driven by their distress over the rampant destruction of mangroves, which were often treated as "ownerless land." The hard wood of the mangrove trees was also a target, used to craft the traditional spinning tops (gasing) popular among local children. One day, Rio and Samsul bravely confronted heavy machinery that was set to crush the remaining mangroves. "We stopped them. We told them the land was already designated as a conservation area and further clearing would lead to legal trouble with the police," Rio recounted. The next day, they approached the village head to explain the situation. With the village head's approval, the group was formed. In 2012, Rio and Samsul initiated the effort to designate 14 hectares of mangrove area for restoration and protection. They mobilized the community to plant mangrove saplings, fill in gaps, and maintain the area. Due to financial constraints, they used discarded ice plastic bags as polybags for nurturing saplings. Early results of their work are visible near the entrance to the area, with the growth of "belukap," a native species that was once nearly invisible in the Kelapapati mangrove ecosystem. They found these saplings in the Pambang area. The efforts of Parit Segagah extend beyond mere planting. They are educating the community about the vital role of mangroves in preventing floods, mitigating coastal erosion, and acting as carbon sinks, thereby raising awareness for sustainable environmental protection. This grassroots initiative is becoming a notable model for mangrove conservation along Indonesia's vast coastlines. Source: Mongabay Indonesia