26 September 2024
Syafrijal S.Kom
PANTAI LABU, Alam Serdang Beach is one of the ecotourism spots in Rugemuk Village, Pantai Labu District, Deli Serdang Regency. This beach is managed by the Alam Serdang Bahari Forest Farmer Group (KTH) in accordance with the Decree of the Head of Rugemuk Village Number 29 of 2018.
Rugemuk Village is a village that borders directly on the East coast of North Sumatra. As befits a coastal area, the lives of the residents of Regemuk Village come from their livelihoods as fishermen and also from managing coastal tourism around Regemuk Village.
In November 2022, Rugemuk Village was hit by a major tidal flood, resulting in most of the residents' houses being inundated. Some were even damaged, and many fishing boats were also damaged.
The impact of the tidal flood also damaged the Alam Serdang Beach managed by KTH Alam Serdang Bahari along with the existing tourism facilities and infrastructure. Even the silvofishery pond built from funds from Lantamal 1 Belawan was also destroyed.
Likewise, the mangrove forest ecosystem in Alam Serdang Bahari Beach continues to be damaged due to coastal abrasion. This condition is exacerbated because during 2018 until the end of 2023 there have been no maximum efforts from the government, both provincial and district, to reduce the impact of sea storms and large waves such as breakwaters (APO).
Over time, KTH Alam Serdang Bahari has also carried out various mangrove planting activities with other parties, both private, government, and universities. However, in this planting activity, the correct planting pattern has not been implemented and there have been no efforts aimed at protecting the habitat so that the planted mangrove seedlings have been damaged again and do not grow.
Starting from this condition, the Community Service Institute (LPPM) of Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU) carried out community service activities (PPM) through mangrove rehabilitation and strengthening of coastal areas to reduce the impact of seawater abrasion.
Some of the PPM activities carried out include education on the development of mangrove rehabilitation using the kite pattern, the construction of community seed gardens that provide tree seedlings (especially mangroves), the development of mangrove crab silvofishery, and planting (rehabilitation) of mangroves using the kite planting pattern and spaced clumps.
The PPM implementation team consists of 4 people, namely Moehar Maraghiy Harahap, S.Hut., M.Sc., Dr. Oding Affandi, S.Hut., MP, Prof. Dr. Etti Sartina Siregar S.Si., M.Si. and Dr. Ahmad Muhtadi, S.Pi., M.Si has carried out a series of activities, namely a survey to the partner location (KTH Alam Serdang Bahari), the creation of a mangrove nursery of the api-api type (Avicennia sp.), the creation of a demonstration plot for planting with a kite pattern, and education on the development of mangrove rehabilitation techniques with a kite planting pattern.
The location survey and discussion activities with PPM partners have been carried out since March 2024. From the results of the field survey, it was found that some of the permanent and non-permanent buildings on Alam Serdang Bahari Beach were severely damaged and even the land from the beach was getting narrower due to ongoing abrasion.
Most of the mangrove trees on the beach have also been damaged and fallen. The results of further discussions with partners after the survey, it was agreed to carry out planting or rehabilitation activities using a kite pattern.
Before carrying out mangrove rehabilitation, the PPM Implementation Team together with partners first created a mangrove nursery to be planted during the rehabilitation process.
To ensure the success of the planting pattern used, a demonstration plot or trial planting with a kite pattern was also made at the PPM location to see the resistance of the protector and the response of the plants to waves and high tide conditions.
The creation of this demonstration plot is important to provide a real picture and empirical experience of what kind of mangrove planting plots must be built around the coast so that they can survive and survive in the future. In the end, the planting plot is expected to grow into a mangrove stand that forms a secondary forest that protects the land.
Furthermore, a demonstration plot for planting a kite pattern was made with the api-api mangrove species (Avicennia sp.) of around 500 seedlings and given protection in the form of bamboo slats
Furthermore, the PPM Team carried out an Education activity on the Development of Mangrove Rehabilitation Techniques with the Kite Planting Pattern to Mitigate Coastal Abrasion in Rugemuk Village, Deli Serdang as well as a discussion which was held on Monday, September 26, 2024 at the Pantai Alam Serdang tourist area.
This activity was carried out by the entire USU PPM Team. This activity was also attended by students participating in the independent learning campus independence program (MBKM) USU. Meanwhile, from the village, the Head of Rugemuk Village and the village government, Community Leaders, housewife groups, and administrators of KTH Alam Serdang Bahari were present.
Moehar Maraghiy as the Head of the PPM Implementation Committee, in his speech said that this PPM activity aims to be a pilot project in implementing the kite pattern in mangrove rehabilitation activities in abraded coastal areas. This activity is also expected to be a medium of empowerment for Rugemuk Village residents and a pilot project for other areas.
Thus, it is hoped that awareness of collective action will be formed in environmental conservation and anticipation of potential disasters in coastal areas.
Meanwhile, the Head of Rugemuk Village said that the village welcomed this program very much.
"We would like to thank the USU PPM Program Implementation Team who have carried out activities and assisted in the restoration of abraded coastal locations, especially
