Turning Tides: Sustainable Community Practices in Restoring Mangrove Ecosystems in Coastal Riau

¹ IGNITE, Department of Business Administration, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Universitas Diponegoro, Semarang, Indonesia
² SDGs Center, Universitas Diponegoro, Semarang, Indonesia
³ Department of Oceanography, Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Science, Universitas Diponegoro, Semarang, Indonesia
⁴ Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Diponegoro, Semarang, Indonesia
⁵ Ministry of Environment, Republic of Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia
⁶ Geography and Environment, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Honolulu, United States

^* Corresponding author: bulan@live.undip.ac.id

Abstract

The Kuala Selat community in Riau Province has experienced a paradigm shift in mangrove ecosystem management from purely business objectives to restoration objectives, after approximately 1,600 hectares of community coconut plantations were submerged due to sea level rise and abrasion. The Kuala Selat community began conservation efforts with the assistance of the community-led Mangroves for Coastal Resilience (M4CR) program to restore 429 hectares of mangrove habitat. This research aims to examine how local awareness, social learning, and collaborative action contribute to sustainable community transformation. The research uses a case study with data obtained from observations, interviews, and secondary reports (M4CR, RWCU 2025, CIFOR-ICRAF 2025, BRGM). The results show that ecological recovery occurs simultaneously with various activities, such as fishing, honey production, and food processing, supported by supportive ecosystem environmental conditions. The salinity level is 5 PSU, pH 6.7, with Rhizophora mucronata dominating, and upper carbon stocks of 15.9 tC/ha. This mangrove ecosystem restoration was accompanied by the development of social solidarity and the institutionalization of conservation efforts through the implementation of regional and village regulations. These results demonstrate that crisis-induced awareness, collective learning, and collaboration among various stakeholders help restore resilience and serve as a model for sustainable and carbon-ready coastal communities.