MEMPAWAH - A community group engaged in mangrove conservation, Mempawah Mangrove Conservation (MMC), held Mempawah Mangrove Festival (MMF) 2018. This activity was held from August 25 to 28, located in the Mempawah Mangrove Park (MMP) area, Mempawah Regency, West Kalimantan.

MMF was held to echo more widely about saving mangrove forests to various lines, as well as an educational event and campaign for environmental awareness of coastal areas. MMF is expected to be a forum for various communities and parties who care about the environment, especially mangroves, to gather and share knowledge and experience, which was started by the SPM (Surya Perdana Mandiri) Group in 2009. In addition, this event is also used as a promotional event for Mempawah Regency Tourism which is part of the initiation of the "Green Shield" area of the North Coast of West Kalimantan, along 193 km stretching from Pontianak City to the end of the Paloh border, Sambas Regency.

The term "Green Shield" is also a joint movement in replanting in abrasion-prone locations and increasing the capacity of local groups in developing the area into an education center and mangrove-based ecotourism that can have a direct economic impact on the communities around the area. This initiative began with mangrove planting activities in Karimunting Village in 2009, and eventually spread to many locations, including the MMP and the Setapuk Besar Mangrove Area, which is managed by the Surya Perdana Mandiri Group, Singkawang.

The opening of MMF was held on August 25, 2018, in the courtyard of Mempawah Heroes Cemetery, which was attended by various parties from the north coast mangrove activist network. Among them were the Mempawah Regency Government, BPSPL Pontianak, West Kalimantan Dispapora, FOSSI, Bank BRI, Bank Indonesia, Indofood, WWF-Indonesia, SPM group, mangrove activist mothers group from Bakau Besar, Pokmas Pelesir Sengkubang, Nahdlatul Ulama University, Tanjungpura University and various mangrove activist communities on the North Coast of West Kalimantan.

In addition, the MMF series was also filled with Joint Summer Program (JSP) activities, in collaboration with the International Office of Tanjungpura University. JSP involves students from various countries, such as National Taitung University (Taiwan), Brunei Darussalam University, Kochi University (Japan), Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Tanjungpura University, Politeknik Negeri Pontianak and Muhammadyah University Pontianak.

In his speech, the Chairman of MMC, Raja Fajar Azansyah, expressed his gratitude to all parties who have supported the successful implementation of MMF 2018, as well as his hopes for mangrove conservation efforts on the north coast "Hopefully the green shield that can protect the north coast of West Kalimantan can expand, and the awareness of all parties in preserving and saving mangroves will also increase. So that what we aspire to, the mangrove ecosystem on the north coast as a support for people's lives can be achieved, "he said.

After the opening, it was continued with a workshop between students and the North Coast Mangrove Activist Forum at the MMP Reading House. The theme of the discussion was about mangrove restoration activities that have been carried out since 2009 to date.

West Kalimantan Program Manager, WWF Indonesia, Albertus Tjiu, in his opportunity as moderator of the workshop, explained how the efforts made by WWF since 2009 in initiating the West Kalimantan Green Shield, by involving partner groups and encouraging the role of the parties.

"Slowly, since the planting was intensified by many parties, the damaged coastal area began to recover, and there are even two groups that have been able to develop the area into a mangrove-based education and ecotourism center, namely MMC and SPM. To date, more than 200 ha of the northern coastal area of West Kalimantan has been planted, and this movement will continue to achieve the Green Shield of the North Coast of West Kalimantan, "said Albertus.

The second day, August 26, 2018, continued with mangrove planting involving 300 participants from various mangrove activist forums, students in Mempawah Regency, JSP participants, Earth Hour Pontianak community and WWF. A total of 5,000 mangrove seedlings were successfully planted around the MMP area.

Furthermore, the series of events were filled with various competitions involving the community and students. To further enliven the festival, MMC also organized entertainment art performances for visitors who attended during the event. A small stage with various decorative creations utilizing leftover materials from nature further enlivened the MMF.

The third day was filled with garbage cleanup activities in the mangrove forest area and screening of educational films about the importance of mangrove habitat. This series of activities will be closed on Tuesday, August 28, 2018, in the MMP area. At the closing there will also be a prize distribution for the competition winners.

For more information, please contact:
Raja Fajar Azansyah (Chairman of Mempawah Mangrove Conservation)
Phone. 089620929294 I Email: [email protected]

Hendro Susanto (Marine Biodiversity Conservation Officer)
WWF-Indonesia West Kalimantan Program
Jl. Karna Sosial Gg. Wonoyoso II No. 3 - Pontianak
Phone. 085252108113 | Email: [email protected]