Working Together to Restore the Coast of Buruk Bakul

Buruk Bakul is a coastal village in Bengkalis Regency, Riau Province, Indonesia. Its mangrove ecosystem supports several plant species, including Rhizophora, Avicennia, Xylocarpus granatum, Sonneratia and Nypa fruticans.

Aerial view of Buruk Bakul’s mangrove ecosystem and eroding shoreline

The village’s mangrove area covers approximately 168 hectares. The article reports average erosion of 4 metres per year along a 139-metre stretch of coastline, with research indicating that erosion has been occurring since 1991. Continuing shoreline loss threatens the community’s living environment.

In response, Yayasan Gambut, with support from Global Environment Centre and Aramco Asia Singapore, is working with multiple stakeholders to protect the ecosystem in the severely eroded areas of Buruk Bakul.

Building Wave Barriers with the Sekat Bakau Group in Buruk Bakul

Buruk Bakul’s wave barrier (APO), built primarily from nibong palm poles

A wave barrier, known locally as Alat Pemecah Ombak (APO), is a structure designed to reduce wave energy. Such structures are used to control coastal erosion (Wahyudi, 2016).

The design imitates the structure of mangrove roots, reducing incoming wave energy so that the shoreline and young mangroves planted behind it are better protected. Lower wave forces can improve the survival of planted mangroves.

The Buruk Bakul barrier applies a hybrid engineering (HE) concept using timber and branches. Yayasan Gambut considers this approach suitable for community-led implementation, enabling residents and local groups to undertake rehabilitation in areas affected by erosion.

Sekat Bakau members building the wave barrier through collective community work

The barrier runs parallel to the shoreline, with its first quarter forming an angle of approximately 130–140 degrees to encourage initial sediment deposition. Nibong palm was selected as the main construction material because it is available in Buruk Bakul and is highly resistant to saline water.

Side view of nibong poles installed in the eroded coastal area

The poles are arranged in a zigzag pattern, approximately 15–20 cm apart, effectively creating two rows of fencing along a single alignment. Each pole is 250 cm long and driven approximately 80 cm into the ground. The barrier stands about 75 metres from the shoreline.

Construction actively involved the Sekat Bakau community group through collective work, supported by the basic resources needed to build the barrier.

With guidance from Yayasan Gambut, Sekat Bakau assessed the construction stages, including site selection, barrier design, materials and technical methods. Preparations involved the Buruk Bakul Village Government. Yayasan Gambut and Sekat Bakau explained the planned activities to the village administration, which supported the work within its capacity and responsibilities.

Engaging Stakeholders to Build Environmental Awareness

Sekat Bakau has around 25 members from Buruk Bakul who are concerned about coastal damage and the future risks of leaving it unaddressed. The group actively raises seedlings and plants mangroves through both programme-supported activities and its regular community work.

To strengthen mangrove planting efforts along the coast, Sekat Bakau initiated an additional protective layer for the nibong barrier. This consists of bamboo structures positioned parallel to the main barrier, approximately 5 metres away.

Bamboo used as an additional barrier to reduce wave energy in the mangrove planting area

The supplementary structures are rectangular and shaped like the letter “n”, measuring 5.5 metres long and 3 metres wide. Construction used a total of 1,680 bamboo sections, each 1.5 metres long, driven between 50 and 75 cm into the ground. Work began at the eastern, or upstream, end of the barrier.

Stakeholders planting mangrove seedlings in a degraded area as part of efforts to build coastal environmental awareness

The work also involved Aksi Gemes of the Sobat Bumi community, comprising students from Universitas Riau and Universitas Islam Riau, who planted mangroves around the barrier. By December 2023, the additional barrier was 50% complete. The remaining work was planned for low tide in mid-January 2024.

A total of 65 participants contributed to the planting activity: 17 UIR–UNRI students involved in Sobat Bumi, 1 village government representative, 13 Sekat Bakau members, 5 women, 21 primary school students, 3 young children, 3 junior secondary school students and 2 community leaders.