Mangrove Rehabilitation in Buruk Bakul

Yayasan Gambut supported mangrove rehabilitation in Buruk Bakul Village, Bukit Batu District, by providing 1000 Rhizophora apiculata seedlings in January 2022. The Sekat Bakau community began its initiative in 2019. At the time of reporting, a total of 4,500 mangrove seedlings had been planted along the village’s coast with support from partners including the Riau Environment Office, the Buruk Bakul Village Government and Yayasan Gambut.

Sekat Bakau faces low seedling survival during rehabilitation because of strong waves, especially during the northern monsoon. Of 100% of seedlings planted before that season, only around 10–15% remained alive by the eastern monsoon. The group hopes partners can help finance wave barriers (APO) using locally available bamboo, reeds and nibong palm. Research in Pangkalan Jambi Village, Bukit Batu District, identified a triangular mangrove barrier as suitable for the characteristics of the Bengkalis Strait coast, including Buruk Bakul.

Sekat Bakau members before planting

Mangrove resources in Buruk Bakul had not generally been recognised as an opportunity to improve community incomes. Uses had been largely limited to fuel, construction materials, some food and medicine, and land conversion for shrimp ponds. Residents reported approximately 15 metres of shoreline loss over the preceding 15 years, equivalent to around 1 metre annually.

Damage to Buruk Bakul’s mangroves can reduce fisheries productivity in the Bengkalis Strait, where local fishers work, with consequences for community livelihoods. Sound mangrove management, by contrast, can bring benefits to fishing households.