Marine ecosystems are vital for coastal communities and fishermen as a source of food, economy, natural protection from abrasion, and climate control through carbon absorption and oxygen production. However, these ecosystems face serious pressures such as over-exploitation, reclamation, industrial waste, mining, tourism expansion, mangrove deforestation, and coral reef damage. The biggest threat comes from plastic waste. According to UNEP (2020), 9-14 million tons of plastic enter the ocean every year globally, potentially increasing to 23-37 million tons in 2040 and 155-265 million tons in 2060. In Indonesia, UNEP recorded 1,29 million tons of plastic ending up in the ocean, while data from the National Coordination Team for Handling Marine Debris in 2023 recorded 359.061,02 tons. Coral reef damage is also a serious threat. The RCO survey (2019) showed 33,8% were in poor condition and only 6,4% were very good. Meanwhile, BPLH recorded the loss of 19.501 hectares of mangrove forest per year. As a result of this damage, fishermen experienced a 30–45% decrease in catch, decreased water quality, and health and climate problems. On Pari Island, the community reported land loss of up to 11%, unpredictable tidal flooding, and decreased income due to the destruction of marine habitats.
Similar to Pari Island, coastal communities and fishermen living in the coastal landscape of Penyusuk, Belinyu District, which consists of 4 islands, namely Penyusuk Island (Pulau Lampu), Putri Island, Sentigi Island and Batu Merlang Island, also feel the impacts caused by mining exploitation such as murky sea water around the coast, sedimentation on coral reefs and the threat of loss of marine biodiversity.
When these problems had not been resolved properly, from other small islands in Indonesia, an initiative was born from coastal communities and fishermen to build an environmental movement that focuses on the safety of marine ecosystems in a simple but very meaningful way and has quite an impact on the preservation and protection of marine ecosystems in a sustainable manner which is supported by the Nusantara Fund.
Nusantara Fund itself is an initiative which distributes direct funding that comes from the three largest organizations consisting of the Indigenous Peoples' Alliance of the Archipelago (AMAN), Agrarian Reform Consortium (KPA), and Environmental Vehicles (WALHI) which focuses on supporting various efforts and initiatives from Indigenous Peoples, People's Organizations, and Local Communities at the grassroots level such as farmers, fishermen, women, and young people in fighting for their rights and improving their quality of life in managing their livelihood resources sustainably.
There are six groups of Indigenous Peoples, People's Organizations, and Local Communities supported by Nusantara Fund to save the marine ecosystem in Indonesia, namely the Pari Island Care Forum (FPPP) which initiated the movement. mangrove and coral reef restoration, coral reef transplantation and rehabilitation; Traditional Fishermen Association (ANTRA) of North Sulawesi who initiated the establishment of coastal community learning centers; Green Student Movement (GSM) Aceh who initiated the strengthening of youth capacity in environmental conservation; youth groups that are members of the Belinyu Nature Lovers Community (KOMPALA) which initiated the development of an ecological academy based on a marine knowledge center as an effort to save and restore coastal areas in Belinyu District, Bangka Belitung; and Tambakrejo Fishermen's Village, Semarang who initiated marine protection through green mussel fish aggregating devices; Indigenous Peoples in South Aru, North South Aru, North Aru, East Aru, Aru Islands who protect the habitat of birds of paradise.
Real Action of Young People and Young Fishermen to Protect Marine Ecosystems
In the 2025 World Environment Day campaign which carries the theme #BeatPlasticPollution, the world is uniting to end the plastic pollution crisis that has damaged ecosystems, threatened human health, and exacerbated the climate crisis and biodiversity loss. Nusantara Fund encourages sustainable, community-scale practices that are environmentally friendly and work to reduce the impact of excess plastic waste. As done by the Youth Movement for Environmental Care, GSM Aceh is a youth movement that cares about environmental sustainability. Since its establishment in October 2023, GSM Aceh has become a place for learning and ecological action for dozens of young people in Banda Aceh and Aceh Besar.
One of the real actions of GSM Aceh is the Garbage Care Movement in tourist areas such as in Alue Naga and Sungai Lamnyong. In this activity, GSM members together with local communities clean up garbage, socialize the importance of maintaining water ecosystems, and sort the collected garbage. This activity also marks the establishment of the GSM Aceh Garbage Bank as a further step for waste management, by sorting and recycling garbage to become valuable products.
GSM Goes to School also provides an understanding to schools about waste, including B3 waste (Hazardous and Toxic Materials) and how to process waste into valuable products. GSM involves 105 participants from pre-school children to high school students to care about the sustainability of the natural ecosystem.
This initiative emphasizes that community-level practices initiated by youth groups are critical in creating solutions to environmental problems with the potential to create broader movements that act as drivers of change in society.
Another real action came from a youth group that is part of KOMPALA Belinyu which focuses on protecting the northern coastal area of Bangka Island that has not experienced environmental damage from tin mining waste through an ecological academy activity based on a marine knowledge center. The goal is to create an educational space for the younger generation of junior high and high schools in understanding, appreciating, and being directly involved in efforts to preserve coastal ecosystems. This academy also involves teachers from the Fisheries Service and academics from universities.
KOMPALA Belinyu also sets a routine daily patrol schedule periodically to monitor mining activities that have the potential to damage the marine ecosystem and small islands covering an area of 100 hectares in the northern waters of Bangka. This is done by involving 20 selected volunteers from the results of ecological and marine education, traditional fishermen and members of the Community Monitoring Group (Pokmaswas). Protection of this marine ecosystem is part of protecting blue carbon and maintaining sources of livelihood for coastal communities and Penyusuk fishermen totaling 2.326 people (1158 men, 1168 women) who depend on marine resources for their livelihoods.
Another real action from Tambakrejo Fisherman Village, a traditional fishing community on the coast of Semarang developed green mussel fish aggregating devices (FADs) and coastal ecotourism as an effort to maintain their livelihoods and protect the mangrove ecosystem. This was done by planting 2.500 bamboos as a medium for green mussel fish aggregating devices (FADs) in an area of 0,14 hectares. The goal is to improve the livelihoods of fishermen while supporting the sustainability of the marine ecosystem, because each bamboo FAD becomes a gathering and breeding place for fish and other marine biota. FADs can be harvested twice a year. The Nusantara Cooperative, which was also formed by the community, deliberately limited the harvest so that the quality of the green mussels was maintained.. Fish aggregating devices are a solution to a tradition that combines ecological, social, and economic aspects in managing marine resources. With an environmentally friendly approach, fish aggregating devices not only increase fishermen's catches but also contribute to the preservation of marine ecosystems and improving the welfare of coastal communities.
Coastal Women as Guardians and Protectors of the Sea
For fisherwomen who make marine products their main source of livelihood, damage to the marine ecosystem has multiple impacts. Especially in terms of the economic income of fishing families. So that fisherwomen who are members of FPPP initiated the birth of a movement to protect and preserve marine ecosystems through the construction of mangrove and coral reef recovery houses which aim to be rehabilitation education houses and storage places for mangrove seeds for fishermen.
Furthermore, a women's group consisting of 60 people plays an active role in encouraging environmentally-based tourism activities through mangrove planting tourism. Tourists can plant mangroves on Pari Island, priced at IDR 5.000 per tree. In addition, members of the Pari Island fishermen's union involving 12 technical teams carried out coral reef rehabilitation using 50 coral reef support rack modules measuring 50 cm x 50 cm with a distance of 40 cm per stake. In addition, regarding coral reef transplantation in an area of 30 meters in the water. In theory, the average growth of coral reefs is only 3 cm per year. However, certain types of coral reefs can grow 10 cm per year.
Similarly to the female fishermen of Pari Island, 9 women who are members of the ANTRA North Sulawesi Fishermen's Union are active in conducting marine conservation through the rehabilitation of 3 hectares of coral reefs and planting mangroves in an area of 1 hectare around Kinamang Village. ANTRA North Sulawesi also built a work structure for managing a learning center and developed advocacy skills and led a coastal protection movement in an area of 102 hectares. They increasingly realize that to fight against environmental plunder and destruction in the fishing zone, demonstrations alone are not enough. Carrying out environmental restoration is also part of the resistance itself which has a far-reaching impact on the interests of the people on the coast of North Sulawesi.
Coastal Protection of Small Islands and Birds of Paradise
In the Aru Islands, Maluku, located in the eastern part of Indonesia and known as a coastal area rich in biodiversity and natural resources, the Rebi, Lutur, Ferin Botam, Ngai Guli, and Siya Indigenous Peoples are mapping their customary territories. This mapping aims to obtain official recognition for the Nata Fanua Wahangulangula Customary Territory which covers an area of 51 thousand hectares, covering coastal areas and forests that are an important part of the local ecosystem. This is important because the Indigenous Peoples are experiencing land conflicts with forestry companies.
In addition to mapping, the Indigenous Community is also actively rehabilitating and restoring the “Djamona Raa” Customary Forest which has a crucial role in maintaining the balance of the coastal ecosystem. This forest is not only a habitat for birds of paradise outside Papua, but also supports various important ecological functions such as carbon absorption, protection against coastal abrasion, and habitat for various marine and terrestrial species that live in coastal areas.
The role of customary forests on the coasts of small islands such as the Aru Islands is vital in dealing with the impacts of climate change and the ever-changing dynamics of the ocean. These coastal forests help reduce the impact of high waves and rising sea levels by preventing abrasion and maintaining the stability of the coastline. In addition, planted trees such as cloves, nutmeg, and fruit trees help maintain soil fertility and increase biodiversity, while also playing a role in absorbing carbon which contributes to climate change mitigation. Through these activities, Indigenous Peoples not only maintain their cultural heritage, but also strengthen protection of coastal ecosystems that are vulnerable to various environmental pressures, including climate change and marine damage. Their efforts are an important example in the preservation of coastal areas that support environmental sustainability and the lives of local communities.