Building Ecotourism, Preserving Nature

Sanggar Alam Delima is a community formed from the aspirations of the people of Delima Village, Tebing Tinggi District, West Tanjung Jabung Regency, Jambi. Since its establishment in 2021, Sanggar Alam Delima has focused on environmental conservation and forest rescue efforts. Sanggar Alam Delima has around 100 members from various age groups, from teenagers to adults. All voluntarily join to protect the remaining forests from the impacts of the expansion of the palm oil plantation industry and industrial tree plantations.

Sanggar Alam Delima also develops an economic model based on ecotourism and sustainable forestry to improve community welfare. Based on this spirit, Sanggar Alam Delima started the program "Building a Sustainable Model for Forest Conservation and Ecotourism Business in the Struggle for Agrarian Reform Movement" with the support of Direct Funding from Nusantara Fund.

Activities include various activities including: forest ecosystem restoration, ecotourism facility development, and community capacity building for sustainable environmental management. In the activities, the 400-hectare land that has experienced ecological damage is the main focus. The area that was previously degraded due to illegal logging and company activities, is being attempted to be restored to its function as a productive forest and community-based ecotourism area.

It began with adding thousands of local plant seedlings and fruit trees to be planted in degraded areas. The types of plants planted include meranti, areca nut, rattan, and various types of fruit trees, these plants were chosen to ensure the sustainability of the ecosystem and the potential for long-term benefits for the community. Planting was carried out collectively by members of Sanggar Alam Delima with the aim of restoring soil conditions and restoring forest cover to restore forest biodiversity.

In addition, Sanggar Alam Delima also established several pavilions at the location. The pavilions function as educational centers and gathering places for the community and visitors from outside. This is also where the Sanggar Alam Delima Field School is held, where community members and various other groups can learn directly about forest conservation, ecology, and sustainable environmental management. The Field School is open to all elements including students, students, nature lover communities, and local government, an open space to learn together about the environment and nature conservation. The pavilions also serve as their gathering point, to relieve fatigue after patrolling the forest.

To ensure that activities are running according to the objectives, Sanggar Alam Delima also conducts periodic monitoring and evaluation of planting. All members are involved in supervision, checking plant development, land conditions, and evaluating success and control. Monitoring is important to ensure that all recovery and conservation activities are going according to plan, and adjustments can be made immediately if necessary.

The activities of restoring degraded forest ecosystems by planting seedlings, as well as building a pavilion for ecotourism development by Sanggar Alam Delima are sustainable management practices that can maintain environmental balance while improving community welfare. Maintaining and managing without damaging existing land and resources is their commitment to maintaining land rights and implementing conservation practices that are oriented towards ecosystem balance.