Communities building permeable structures as part of the Bio-Rights programme
Nanang Sujana
Construction of mangrove track by communities in Betahwalang
Wetlands International
Signing of bio-rights contracts
Wetlands International
Village development planning deliberations
Wetlands International
Many of the rural poor are caught in a ‘poverty trap to meet short term livelihood needs and forced to unsustainably exploit the natural environment. The exploitation leads to increased vulnerability and further constrains their development opportunities. Therefore, to reconcile aquaculture productivity with mangrove conservation and restoration, we introduced the Bio-rights financial incentive mechanism in Demak. In return for active engagement in conservation and restoration measures, communities received financial and technical support to develop sustainable livelihoods. Bio-rights agreements are conditional: payments to communities are only completed after successful restoration. The approach covers part of the costs the farmers or the community face to change their current unsustainable practice (degrading the very mangrove greenbelt that they rely on for coastal safety) into long-term sustainable livelihood strategies. This motivates them to take a long-term interest in their conservation work as well. Some community groups set aside a portion of the capital in a group savings fund.
Community groups in 9 villages along the Demak coast were supported by Indonesian staff from the Building with Nature consortium who resided in Demak district throughout the project timeline.
Local communities appointed individuals to participate in the programs.
All community groups should be well organised and able to access, receive and manage government funds.
The Bio-rights approach relies on capacity and awareness of community members; both were raised through Coastal Field Schools.
Previously, after conversion of mangrove into ponds, farmers didn't reflect on links between their livelihoods and the mangroves. They passively accepted floods and decreasing yields of aquaculture and fishery.
After the CFS had raised awareness, creativity and willingness, the Bio-rights approach was the last push for communities to dedicate areas for greenbelt restoration.
Funds made available to community groups in return for performing ‘ecosystem services’ to boost livelihoods, enabled through Bio-rights 'package deals'.
To ensure sustainable finance for mangrove rehabilitation, part of the funds can be set aside into a group savings fund and/or used for profitable economic activities. In Demak, one village started a commercial mangrove walk; others bought machines to prepare the (liquid) compost for their ponds.
By including policy and advocacy in the package deals, communities managed to get measures rooted in village development plans. As a result, communities already receive ad hoc or annual village and district government funds for various measures.
AMA connects aquaculture with mangrove greenbelts along shorelines in estuaries. Greenbelts are nonexistent in most farms. In contrast to most silvo-aquaculture systems where mangroves are planted on dykes and in ponds, in AMA they are located outside the pond, where magroves contribute to climate mitigation. Mangroves on dykes and in ponds hamper pond maintenance and their litter and shade reduce productivity. Leaves decompose in ponds, providing feed sources to shrimp and cultured organisms. However excessive litter increases ammonia levels, decreases dissolved oxygen content, and reduces pond productivity.
In AMA, the pond management is not hampered by leaves or shade, and benefits from an improved quality of inflowing water. A single farmer can practise AMA, but ideally all farmers along a canal improve the landscape. As farmers need to give up part of their pond area, which represents production potential, they are compensated with improvements in yield. Profits are obtained from the smaller pond, applying best practices from the Coastal Field Schools.
The CFS showed pond farmers how to increase their yields using LEISA and smaller ponds. AMA farmers were able to stabilise their income, despite extreme flooding.
AMA provides farmers with additional income through forestry products and increased catches in their gate-traps, and higher fish catches.
In Tanakeke Island (South Sulawesi), fish farmers that gave up all or a portion of their ponds for mangrove recovery could register for a tax break (Conservation Easement).
Farmers hesitated to remove the old dike bordering the waterway, as it limits their parcel. Leaving the old gates open most of the time was enough for a new sediment layer of 10 cm/year, and influx of seedlings for natural mangrove regrowth.
The Bio-Rights financing mechanism and group collaboration are essential accompanying measures to recruit poor pond-farmers.
When the pond dyke is under heavy protection or bears a large road, moving the dyke needs district planning and major investment.
Pond dyke(s) carrying roads suitable for carts can be moved in unison by the neighbouring owners, even though this requires planning and incurs costs. Dykes with footpaths or bike roads can be moved more easily.
Pond bunds that are shared with neighbours who are reluctant to change their system will need structural reinforcement, as the changing water level may cause erosion or uneven pressure.
The remaining pond should have a width of 20m or more. Narrower ponds are costly to transform or become economically unviable. We advise complete transformation to the mangrove greenbelt.
