By: Adella Adiningtyas (Marine & Fishery Campaign and Social Media Assistant)

Romantic Beach or Pantai Tengah, Serdang Bedagai, Medan City, is already known as an ecotourism spot by Medan residents. Its location, which is not too far from the city center, makes Romantis Beach always crowded with visitors. With the theme "Recognizing, Visiting and Monitoring Conservation Areas", Medan's Marine Buddies Community held its annual event at Romantic Beach on May 7. As a form of celebration for Coral Triangle Day and World Ocean Day which falls on June 8 and 9, the Marine Buddies Community together with Biota of Medan State University (UNIMED) also have a desire to introduce the importance of mangrove ecosystems in the coastal areas of Medan City.

The lively event was attended by 83 participants from various communities and high school students in Medan City. The activity, which began with mangrove planting on the available land, attracted the attention of residents who came as visitors. The planting action, which began with a brief explanation from one of the community members, was also covered by media partners who collaborated in this activity. In between explanations of planting procedures, Bang Yusron, as the facilitator, also interacted with participants before going down to the muddy land.

More Concerned with the Condition of Our Coast
Mangrove forest destruction in Serdang Bedagai Regency, North Sumatra, has reached an average of 3,700 ha. According to beach managers, the main cause of mangrove forest destruction in Serdang Bedagai is land conversion for other uses, such as conversion of plantation areas, agricultural land settlements and aquaculture. This is why Medan's Marine Buddies Community held a mangrove planting action as well as a mini talk show on conservation areas at Romantic Beach.

Mr. Puji as the main speaker explained about the benefits of mangrove ecosystems on the coast. According to Mr. Puji, mangrove ecosystems have three main benefits, namely ecology, economy and education. All three have an important role for the survival of people who live on the coast. For example, mangrove ecosystems can prevent coastal abrasion, mangroves that grow in muddy areas become crab habitats that residents can sell to increase their income and help introduce the concept of ecotourism to visitors who come.

Pak Puji hopes that preservation activities like this can continue to be carried out by the youth in Medan City,
"Do what we have to do for this earth. Start from yourself and invite others to contribute," said Pak Puji.

At the end of the event, the Marine Buddies Medan Community said that they would continue to care about protecting the environment by spreading the positive spirit with Biota UNIMED and other communities in Medan City.