Roles of Traditional Coastal Management Institution for Mangrove Rehabilitation and Restoration in Aceh Province, Indonesia

Abstract

This chapter presents a case study of mangrove management and conservation in Aceh province, Sumatra island, Indonesia. It focuses on a traditional institution for coastal resource management (Panglima Laots) to govern mangrove resources while addressing mangrove rehabilitation and restoration programs after the Indian Ocean Tsunami. The case study revealed that rapid loss of mangrove forests in Aceh province had been experienced due to commercial pressures as well as the Tsunami. In the former, Panglima Laots provided leadership in governing mangrove resources among the fishers, but did not contribute to prevent other stakeholders from engaging in its large-scale resource exploitation. In the latter, the Tsunami led to a momentum of numerous efforts made by a large number of supporting agencies to improve mangrove resources. However, elaboration had been put into practice to achieve the number of seedlings planted while many agencies took little account the survival rate after planting. Mangrove conservation requires long-term maintenance. Community participation is essential in maintaining the resources, but the reality was the situation where local residents were involved only as unskilled labor. The lessons learned from the case study provide insights on integrating existing Panglima Laots into the outside-driven mangrove conservation programs to foster sustainable management of mangrove resources.