The Condition of Seagrass Beds in North Sulawesi following the implementation of Community-Based Coastal Management Program

Abstract

Pusomaen district in Southeast Minahasa Regency, North Sulawesi, was designated as one of the pilot sites for the Community-Based Coastal Resource Management Program (CB-CRMP) from 1997 - 2003. This program focused on the implementation of best-practice in coastal resource management involving multiple local stakeholders. Fifteen years after its phase-out, a study was conducted on seagrass beds in Tumbak and Bentenan village in Pusomaen district to obtain the seagrass ecosystem’s current status and condition in the former pilot sites. We observed the program’s legacy in terms of community awareness concerning coastal resource management and seagrass ecosystem. A line transect method was used to assess species diversity, coverage, and dominance in 9 stations. Environmental variables (weather, human activities, depth, clarity) and communities’ behavior towards seagrass beds (domestic waste disposal, boat anchoring) were also observed. The result showed that seven stations were in moderate, one in poor, and one in healthy conditions. There were seven seagrass species found during the observation. Thalassia hemprichii and Enhalus acoroides were found in all stations, dominating the seagrass coverage. We also recorded the presence of Syringodium isoetifolium and Cymodocea rotundata in several stations. The expected CB– CRMP legacies of institutionalized community-based coastal management were nearly non-existent, while negative or indifferent behavior of the general community towards the seagrass ecosystem was observed, highlighted by domestic waste disposal and boat anchoring in the seagrass beds. Consistency of program planning and financial support from local and provincial governments were needed to maintain the legacy of CB-CRMP, while regular ecosystem monitoring was also pivotal in providing scientific data for local and provincial decision-making processes regarding coastal resource management.