Ecological Threat:

Merbau Island (program intervention area) is an area surrounding by the ocean and the only access to the main island in North Sumatera is by using connecting bridge. Currently, the coastal area of Merbau Island had suffered from abrasion. This area also surrounded by 17 km of fortress built by Department of Public Works. The fortress that was built as safety dam currently is broken down, causing crop failure due to the drowning of their crops by sea water. This problem often occurred during wet season. The problem was triggered by the lack of buffered trees and conversion of mangrove area by irresponsible owner to become intensive embankments. Around 80 % of 450 hectares in-land fisheries located at Paluh Merbau area, and around 75 % consist of intensive embankments that cause the depletion of mangrove forest in the area.

Project Development Goal:
Achieved sustainable coastal and riparian area conservation and improved coastal community welfare in Merbau Paluh

Project Development Objectives:
1. Increased community participation in sustainable mangrove conservation along the coastal and river bank area;
2. Existed 2 (two) Ha of community mangrove forest;
3. Increased quality of 17 km river bank environment as buffer zone for community settlement and paddy field area;
4. Increased costal community income through fisheries using Paluh embankment system

Expected Outputs:
1. Existed community mangrove forest;
2. Existed independent mangrove management groups;
3. Organized planting of various species of mangrove as buffer zone to community village and farm area;
4. Existed fish cultivation using Paluh embankment system

Activities to be Conducted:
I. Strengthing Community Capacity
A. Program Socialization
B. Organizing Routine Group Meeting
C. Program Orientation
D. Conducting Conservation Training

II. Improving Quality of Coastal and River Bank Area
A. Provisioned of Mangrove Seeds
B. Seedling
C. Cleaning-up Mangrove Area
D. Planting
E. Monitoring
F. Conducting Workshop on Participative Mangrove Management

III. Improving Community Income
A. Establishing Fish Pond
B. Provisioning Fingerlings
C. Provisioning Cultivation Capital
D. Conducting Training on Fishery Business Analysis
E. Conducting Training on Fish Cultivation
F. Conducting Survey on Household-scale Economy



Project Participants and/or beneficiaries:
176 Housholds, consist of:
1. Members of 10 Community Groups currently assisted by Yayasan Bahtera Sejahtera
2. Traditional Fishers
3. Coastal Woman Group