Innovation

Muara Gembong Bekasi coastal area was eroded covering many thousands of hectares areas. The impact is devastating, many houses were damaged, residents had to move to other land and even fish ponds as a livelihood of local residents were swiped out by abrasion. A group of people joined in a team named "Save Mugo "(Jaga Muara Gembong). The group, established in 2013 was motivated to plant Green Belt Mangrove.

Mangrove's function is not only to prevent abrasion. This plant can bring new ecosystem such as various species of fish, shrimp, crab, shellfish and other marine biota. As biological function of mangrove is for feeding ground, spawning ground, nursery ground. Therefore it can be used by local people to be a new livelihood that had previously been lost by abrasion.

The brilliant ideas of "Save Mugo" opens up new possibilities for the other benefits of Mangrove that can be used as economic enhancers for the surrounding communities. Save Mugo establishes KEBAYA "Kelompok Bahagia Berkarya" a group of the village communities to support the growth of local economy. The member mostly are housewife. "Save Mugo" teach and socialize to the KEBAYA group on how to make food and drink products from Mangrove like syrup, cake “dodol”, coffee, tea, donuts where these products can be traded and become additional income for the surrounding community.

Inspiration

1. Save Mugo successfully raises the motivation of the surrounding community so that this Mangrove as Green Belt can be realized and keep the coastal area from abrasion

2. The re-emergence of new ecosystems in the coastal areas, so that the livelihoods of surrounding communities can grow again

3. Improving the economy of the surrounding community, especially for the housewives by training them to produce food and beverage as additional income

4. Becomes a new education resource, acting as a business incubator helping to run a business from raw material, maintenance up to product marketing process

Overall impact

Mangroves are a mandatory requirement especially in the coastal areas to keep the land save from the abrasion. Mangrove not only assures for comfortable residence, it can even become a source for economic growth for the surrounding community.

Business benefit

Mangrove does not only serve its original function in the coastal area to prevent abrasion. It could also become one of the driving of economic growth with the presence of processed food products and beverages that can be traded and promoted as the producs of Mangrove area.

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Social and environmental benefit

With this activity, there are many impacts, not only to the environment and even other positive impacts also felt by the surrounding community such as:

For the social, the condition of the surrounding community grows not only in terms of increasing economy but also can provide an education such as how to develop a business that can run successfully.

For the environment, abrasion that has been eroding the coastal area can be overcome and can even create a new ecosystem not only for marine biota but as a source of germplasm and wildlife habitat, especially birds, mammals, poultry, reptiles, and others.

Interview

Mr Firman Nurhasan, Mr Sonhaji, Mrs Alpiah, Volunteers and Citizens

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