FORET PROGRAM

Projet MERCI | Mangrove Ecosystem and Javan Rhinoceros Conservation in Indonesia

Background

La pointe ouest de l’île de Java en Indonésie, abrite le parc national d’Ujung Kulon (UKNP) qui fait face à des risques élevés d’éruptions volcaniques, de tremblements de terre et de tsunamis comme ce fut notamment le cas en 2018. Cette vulnérabilité aux catastrophes naturelles est accrue par la densité et l’activité humaine. 

L’écosystème de la mangrove couvrait autrefois en grande partie le littoral local et les rivières du parc et de sa périphérie. Or, les mangroves y ont subi une dégradation massive en raison de la conversion des terres en habitats, du développement des infrastructures et de l’installation d’industries telles que celles du tourisme et de la pêche. 

Ces pressions ont réduit les ressources halieutiques abritées par les forêts disponibles dans la région, menaçant désormais les moyens de subsistance des communautés locales qui se déplacent dans le parc pour assurer leur activité. A l’intérieur de ce dernier, une partie de l’habitat du rhinocéros de Java a disparu entrainant le déclin de cet animal emblématique. Cette situation a poussé l’UICN à déclarer cette espèce en danger critique d’extinction. Le dernier recensement indique qu’il ne reste que 74 individus de rhinocéros de Java  parmi cette seule population sauvage connue, ce qui en fait probablement le grand mammifère le plus gravement menacé d’extinction de la planète. 

Objective

Contribute to the restoration of the local coastal forest ecosystems and the conservation of their fauna (with particular emphasis on the Java rhino) in Ujung Kulon National Park and its outskirts.

Activities

The project focuses on three main areas: raising awareness for the conservation of the mangroves and the Java rhino, the restoration of coastal and mangrove ecosystems and the development of sustainable community livelihoods.

Restoration of ecosystems : the loss of forests, habitat of many species, is one of the 5 major causes of biodiversity loss. The planting of 250,000 mangroves and other coastal species in the park will act directly on the living surface of the species and increase the resilience of communities in the periphery from and ecological and economical point of view.

Economic development : identifying potential income-generating activities will be at the heart of scaling up the project. In this pilot phase a first silvo-fishery, via the fattening of crabs, will allow to promote crab culture in mangroves, a natural environment favourable to their growth, and then sell them at a higher price locally.

Awareness : the project aims to sensitize 550 students through campaigns in 11 schools and work with teachers and the District Education Agency to integrate key messages on the conservation of mangroves and its biodiversity into school curricula. International Mangrove Day will be celebrated with more than 500 community members, local authorities as well as the press. .

Expected impact

Ecologically healthy coastal ecosystems will function as natural defences for humans and wildlife living on the continent.

In this regard, mangrove restoration can play an immediate and critical role in terms of disaster risk reduction, ecosystem protection, preservation of Java rhino habitat and subsequent resilience of local communities living in the region of West Java. The restoration and enhancement of mangroves and their ecosystem services would increase fishery resources of high economic value for the local community living in the region. This would then reduce human disturbance to nearby Ujung Kulon National Park and its protected wildlife.

Increasing mangrove forest cover and its ecosystem services will be essential not only for adaptation but also for climate change mitigation, as these natural wells store up to 5 times more carbon than upland forests.

In subsequent phases beyond the duration of these project and based on its successes and lessons learned, mangrove restoration could be intensified by expanding tree planting in the centre of the park, in its buffer zones and in other coastal areas along the west coast of Java to increase the resilience of communities living near many degraded natural areas.

On the one hand, project activities will raise awareness among local community members concerning the conservation of the Java rhino and the sustainable management of coastal areas and its natural resources. On the other hand, capacity building initiatives will seek to enable community members to generate alternative income activities and increased added value from products generated by the mangrove ecosystem and its expansion into the market.