RESTORATION
The programme aims to improve environmental conditions and the well-being of local communities, as well as supporting environmental and social goals at local and global levels.
Yakopi has long-term plans to expand and strengthen its restoration programmes across Indonesia. By working with local communities, stakeholders and government support, they hope to achieve significant results in environmental conservation and improved social and economic well-being in the regions they support.
Coastal Restoration
Yakopi has dedicated its efforts to restoring the fragile coastal ecosystems in these regions. The coastal restoration programme includes mangrove planting, coastal erosion control and wetland restoration. These actions are designed to ensure the sustainability of coastal ecosystems, protect coastlines from damage and provide a safe habitat for marine life.
More Carbon Sequestration
Mangroves work more than other forests to absorb carbon up to 4-5x more hectares of tropical rainforest. This makes mangroves one of the planet’s best and most important defenses against climate change.Danoto’s research results in 2011 stated that mangrove forests in the Indo-Pacific have the capacity to absorb and store carbon 5 times that of terrestrial forest ecosystems, tropical forests and so on. And Indonesia has many advantages over other countries because it has the largest mangrove forests and the largest carbon stores in the world.
Coastal Vegetation
Coastal vegetation is a group of plants that occupy intertidal areas ranging from tidal areas to areas inland from islands or land where there is still influence from the sea and generally have a relatively high salinity.Non-mangrove coastal vegetation is generally found in coastal areas with sandy substrates and is characterised by a zonation of growth forms horizontally from intertidal areas.
Yakopi, as one of the NGOs working in the environmental sector in the coastal area, is also involved in planting activities in this non-mangrove vegetation area, considering that the tsunami incident has become a lesson for all of us about the importance of coastal borders and the use of coastal areas as a fortress nature in disaster prevention.In addition, a tsunami is an event that has a certain period of time and cannot be predicted, so efforts that can be made to mitigate the disaster can reduce its impact.
Benefits
Several areas in Aceh and North Sumatra have undertaken activities to plant coastal vegetation such as coconut, sea hibiscus, ketapang and sea cypress. The benefits of this planting are
- As a trap, i.e. to stop drifting logs (fallen trees, etc.), ruins (destroyed houses, etc.) and other debris (boats, etc.)
- As a tsunami energy damper, i.e. to reduce the speed of the water flow, the flow pressure and the depth of the puddles.
- As a handrail, i.e. as a means of self-rescue for people swept away by the tsunami by holding on to branches.
- As a means of escape, i.e. as a ‘vehicle’ to escape from the ground or a building by climbing a tree.
- To form sand dunes, i.e. to collect wind-blown sand and form dunes/hills that act as a natural barrier against tsunamis.
Activity Objectives
Community participation and awareness is also highly expected and socialisation of activities related to this activity is always carried out by Yakopi so that coastal communities better understand the benefits of the plants they grow and it is also hoped that this activity can:
- Increase the awareness and perception of the community and stakeholders to be involved in efforts to preserve existing coastal vegetation and efforts to develop coastal vegetation in disaster prone areas, especially tsunamis.
- The development of coastal vegetation and its multifunctional accessories, which not only act as a buffer to reduce the energy and impact of the tsunami on coastal infrastructure, but also play a role in reviving the economy of the community through alternative livelihoods resulting from the existence of coastal forest areas.
- Reduce the potential risks, both moral and material, to coastal communities from future tsunami disasters.
- To develop a coastal vegetation management system that is integrated with economic activities in coastal forest areas.
To date, Yakopi has been involved in the restoration of non-mangrove coastal vegetation in several plant species useful for coastal protection and disaster mitigation.
Agroforestry
As a natural resource, land plays many roles, including that of a major producer of agricultural commodities. Increased population and basic needs have necessitated larger areas and more intensive cultivation.Yakopi, an environmental NGO, has also played an active role in developing an agroforestry programme on the coast of Sumatra, Indonesia. This programme is extremely beneficial in terms of reducing emissions and producing carbon in Sumatra and Indonesia.
Based on this, optimal land management activities are required to achieve maximum results to meet increasing demands; one method for optimal land use is through agroforestry activities.Agroforestry (Wana Tani) is the management of optimal and sustainable land use through the integration of forestry and agricultural activities into community social, economic and cultural management units.
Highland restoration and agroforestry:
The Highland Agroforestry Programme is an important aspect of Yakopi’s conservation efforts. Through this programme, we work with local farmers to implement sustainable agricultural practices by planting useful trees. The aim is to reduce the need for timber from the forest and increase the productivity of the land.
Three Types of Plants in Agroforestry
Canopy trees are tall trees that provide dense shade. They form the top layer in agroforestry systems and are often used to protect crops below from excessive sunlight. Examples of canopy trees are mahogany, teak or other hardwoods.
Fruit trees are planted to produce fruit that can be eaten or sold. They are an important part of agroforestry systems that focus on food production and income generation. Examples of fruit trees are mango, guava or banana trees.
Shade trees are trees that provide protection for the plants below. They typically have a lush canopy and help maintain the moisture and microclimate below. Examples of shade trees are Gliricidia, Albizia or various legume species.
The combination of these three tree patterns in agroforestry systems helps to create a symbiotic relationship between food crops, cash crops and environmental trees, resulting in balanced economic and environmental sustainability.