RESTORASI EKOSISTEM MANGROVE DI KABUPATEN KENDAL

Abstract

Kendal Regency is located in the north coast of Java. As other coastal areas, Kendal has mangrove ecosystem resource. In 2014, the ecosystem which is streched in Kartikajaya Village-Wonosari Village, Patebon District, is covering an area of 384,59 hectares. Due to rapid population growth, urban development, and industrialization make degradation in natural resources and the environment such as in mangrove ecosystem, abrasion, seawater intrusion, etc. The objectives of this research are: (1) to identify the damages level of mangrove ecosystem in Kendal Regency, (2) to analyze the awareness level of community towards the mangrove ecosystem in Kendal Regency, (3) to formulate the restoration design of mangrove ecosystem in Kendal Regency, and (4) to estimate the amount of communities’ willingness to pay to the mangrove ecosystem restoration in Kendal Regency. This research uses primary and secondary data. Primary data is obtained from 152 respondents by Two-Stages Sampling and 10 key persons by Purposive Sampling. Secondary data is obtained from BPS Jawa Tengah, DKP Kabupaten Kendal, and BLH Kabupaten Kendal. Quantitative method is applied to answer the objective 1 and 2, indepth interview is applied to answer the objective 3, and Contingent Valuation Method is applied to answer the objective 4. The study indicated that the damages level of mangrove on trees and sapling categories are in fair condition, while seedling category is under moderate condition. Communities’ awareness level towards the mangrove ecosystem in Kendal Regency is considered high. The study suggests that the restoration design of mangrove ecosystem in Kendal Regency should follow: (1) planning; (2) pre-implementation activities; (3) implementation activities; (4) monitoring, mentoring, evaluation, and review; and (5) publication. The results of Contingent Valuation Method showed that Willingness to Pay (WTP) has an average Rp 18.000,00 per household per year, and the total value of Willingness to Pay is Rp 933.174.000,00 per year. The average value of WTP can be used as a reference in determining the contribution for communities to be allocated for mangrove ecosystem restoration in Kendal Regency.