REVIEW OF INTERNATIONAL GEOGRAPHICAL EDUCATION

ISSN: 2146-0353 ● © RIGEO ● 11(5), SPRING, 2021 www.rigeo.org Research Article Collaboration of Government Policies and the Marind Tribe Communities on Mangrove Resources Management in the Payum Coastal Area of Regency in Sajriawati1 Astaman Amir2 Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Musamus, Merauke, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Musamus, Merauke, Indonesia Hendra Jondry Hiskya3 Rezky Uspayanti4 Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, Universitas Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, Universitas Musamus, Merauke, Indonesia Musamus, Merauke, Indonesia Serli Hatul Hidayat5 Hasanuddin University, makassar, Indonesia.

1 Corresponding Author: Email: [email protected] Abstract Mangroves have an important role for the sustainability of marine resources. Mangrove ecosystems are habitat for marine organisms and protect the coastline from sea water abrasion. Mangrove resource management aims to maintain the sustainability of the mangrove ecosystem. Mangrove resource management requires good collaboration between the government as policy maker and the communities as resource users. This article discusses collaboration of government policies and the Marind tribe communities on mangrove resources management in the Payum Coastal area of Merauke Regency in Papua. Based on information obtained through in-depth interviews with 20 respondents conducted in November 2019, this article shows that the Merauke government, in this case the Environmental Agency, started a program to plant mangroves in the Payum Coastal since 2015. Because the Payum coastal area, which is directly opposite the Arafura Sea, is regularly flooded when the tide rises to residential areas during the rainy season, so the Marind communities in the Payum Coastal also conduct planting of mangrove seeds independently. Before the government's involvement in the mangrove planting initiatives, the participation of the communities in planting mangrove seedlings was quite small, only around 30 people. Since the existence of a government policy through the Environmental Agency, which provides financial assistance in the form of wages for planting mangrove seeds for IDR 2.500 per seed, community participation increased to 272 people divided into 68 families. This increase is considered quite drastic because it reaches an increase of 906%. The increase in community participation occurs because of the value of wages, which according to the community, is very helpful for the household economy. If averaged, each family will receive an income of IDR 2.672.794 with an estimate of planting 1,033 mangrove seedlings per family. This also has a positive impact on mangrove preservation. If previously only about 7,500 mangrove seedlings were able to be planted independently, then after government program assistance, the number of mangrove seedlings planted reached 72,700 mangrove seeds every year, or a significant increase of 969%. Therefore, it can be concluded that the collaboration of government policies and the Marind tribe communities has a positive impact on mangrove management and also improves the economy of the Marind people who live in the Payum Coastal.

Keywords Mangroves, Government Policies, Marind Tribe Communities, Payum Coastal Areas

To cite this article: Sajriawati.; Amir, A.; Hiskya, H, J.; Uspayanti, R.; and Hidayat, S, H. (2021) Collaboration of Government Policies and the Marind Tribe Communities on Mangrove Resources Management in the Payum Coastal Area of Merauke Regency in Papua. Review of International Geographical Education (RIGEO), 11(5), 280-286. doi: 10.48047/rigeo.11.05.28

Submitted: 20-01-2021 ● Revised: 15-02-2021 ● Accepted: 25-03-2021

Sajriawati.; Amir, A.; Hiskya, H, J.; Uspayanti, R.; and Hidayat, S, H. (2021) Collaboration of Government Polici …

Introduction

Mangrove is a type of dicot plant that lives in brackish water and supports marine habitats. The mangrove ecosystem has a role as an important habitat for various organisms and protects the coastline from sea water abrasion (DARMAYANTI, 2018). Mangroves have an important role in controlling climate change, and according to Bhomia, Kauffman, and McFadden (2019) the contribution of carbon sequestration from mangrove forests is three times higher than tropical forests. However, the area of mangrove forests in Indonesia is only about 3.7% of the forest cover. Previous research shows that the area of mangrove land use in Merauke has shown an increase every year, but this is a threat to aquatic ecology, if mangrove forests are converted into land use by 0.10 %, it is equivalent to 21,731.40 tons of CO2 per year (Untarf & Jefri, 2018). The government has carried out disaster mitigation initiatives, one of which is planting in mangrove forests (Untari, Melmambessy, & Simatupang, 2018). The threat to the mangrove ecosystem in Merauke causes concern due to the location of the mangrove ecosystem, which is close to human settlements, so it is vulnerable to degradation and environmental damage. For example sand mining activities damage the mangrove ecosystem (Masiyah & Arifin, 2016). Another thing that is of concern to the sustainability of the mangrove ecosystem is the problem of environmental pollution such as heavy metals. Heavy metals are mainly contaminated from industrial, recreational, agricultural and residential areas (Nyangon et al., 2019). Mangrove ecosystem management is an important agenda to be implemented as an effort to preserve mangroves in Merauke. Mangrove management must include policies that are able to accommodate the interests of the parties, both for the purpose of protecting mangroves, increasing fishery production, and for the benefit of community empowerment. The current development paradigm no longer depends on the role of the government alone (government), but develops into partnerships that involve stakeholders (governance). What is meant by stakeholders are those who are influenced by a policy, those who can influence the policy, and those who have the resources and authority to implement the policy (Smutko, 2008). Stakeholder involvement is expected to accommodate the values and interests of the public in decision making, improve the quality of public decisions, increase community capacity, and avoid conflicts. The involvement of stakeholders in each development program will be different. They can generally be grouped into groups according to their interests and roles. In governance, there is a continuous process of interaction between the community and the government. Seigler (2011) conveyed eight main principles in the application of collaborative governance, namely (1) Citizens must be involved in the production of public goods, (2) Policies must contain sustainable collaborative partnerships, and (3) Policies must change institutions for community empowerment and public problem solving. The collaborative governance model according to Ansell and Gash (2008) consists of four main variables, namely initial conditions, institutional design, leadership and collaborative processes. The stages in the collaborative process include face-to-face dialogue, building trust, and commitment to the process, mutual understanding and interim results. All collaborative governance is built on face-to-face dialogue between stakeholders. As a consensus process, direct dialogue is needed by stakeholders to identify opportunities for mutual benefit. In this study, we will discuss how the collaboration of government policies and the Marind tribe communities in mangrove management in one of the coastal areas in Merauke, namely the Payum coastal area. Does the government policy that involves the community through a collaborative process have a positive impact on both of them, good collaboration is expected so that the objectives of mangrove protection and the interests of community empowerment can be achieved according to the expected targets.

Materials and Methods

Time and Place

This research was conducted in November 2019 in the Payum Coastal area of Merauke Regency in Papua.

281 © RIGEO ● Review of International Geographical Education 11(5), SPRING, 2021

Population and Sample

The population in this study were all Marind communities who were involved in the management of mangrove ecosystems in the coastal area of Payum. Sampling using the accidental sampling technique, which is a sampling technique based on incidental meeting with researchers during mangrove seed planting activities and is considered suitable as a data source. The number of samples taken was 20 respondents or 10% of the total population participating in mangrove planting activities.

Data and Data Analysis

This study will use observation and interview techniques as data collection techniques. The observation technique was carried out by looking directly at the mangrove planting activity at the research location, while the interview technique was carried out by conducting interviews with 20 respondents at the research location using a list of questions that had been provided. The type of data in this study is primary data obtained directly through observation and interviews at the research location. Data analysis was carried out by descriptive method through a quantitative approach. Descriptive quantitative is a type of research used to analyze data by describing or describing the data that has been collected as it is and is described through tables, graphs, or pictures.

Results and Discussion

How The Community Is Involved in Mangrove Planting Program by The Government

The majority of communities who live in the Payum Coastal area are fishermen who are indigenous Papuans, which are known as the Marind tribe (Figure 1). In the 1970s, the government included them in RT 23 Village Samkai, Merauke District, Merauke Regency.

Figure 1. Coordination with the Chairman of the Customs and Marind communities in the Payum Coastal (Source: Researcher's Personal Documents)

The government, through the Environment Agency, started a mangrove planting program in 2015 as a program to support mangrove ecosystem management in Merauke. This program was welcomed by the communities, especially the Marind communities in the Payum Coastal Area. This program is a fund assistance program in the form of work wages for people who plant mangrove seeds in a predetermined area in the Payum Coastal Zone. According to Setyorini (2017) the growth and development of community participation, three

282 Sajriawati.; Amir, A.; Hiskya, H, J.; Uspayanti, R.; and Hidayat, S, H. (2021) Collaboration of Government Polici …

main elements are determined, namely: 1) There is an opportunity given to the community to participate; 2) The community's willingness to participate; and 3) The community's ability to participate. These three main elements are owned by the Marind community on Payum Coastal to be involved in the government's program of planting mangroves. The Marind community was given the opportunity to participate in activities and as a result they were willing and able to carry out these activities well. Based on the results of interviews with Chairman of the Customs, information was obtained that Chairman of the Customs played a very important role in making decisions regarding community participation in mangrove planting activities programmed by the government. Socialization and communication of government programs will be conveyed through the Chairman of the Neighborhood and then discussed with the Chairman of the Customs. Furthermore, if there is an agreement, the customary leader gives directions to the community to participate in the activity. Based on research conducted by Syama (2015), information is obtained that traditional leaders are able to influence society in political participation and increase development success.

The Communities Involved in The Mangrove Planting Program by The Government

The Marind community on Payum Coastal who participate in the Mangrove Planting Movement program are all indigenous Papuan people who live on Payum Coastal. The Marind people involved in this activity are all family members without exception. Each head of the family invites his wife and children to participate in these activities. The interesting thing about mangrove management from the government policy in providing financial assistance is the increased participation of the people who are involved in planting mangroves. Based on the results of the observations carried out, it was recorded that 68 heads of families were involved, and in one family their wives and children were involved (Figure 2).

Figure 2. Participation of women and children in mangrove planting (Source: Researcher's Personal Documents)

The children's involvement in the mangrove planting process was based on an invitation from their parents. Based on in-depth observation, it is known that the reason they want to be involved is due to economic factors. The more labor, the more mangroves that can be planted, the more wages will be received. The positive benefits that can be taken from this activity for children are that children will learn from an early age about environmental management, so indirectly they will love their own environment more. Participation in mangrove planting activities from an early age can shape the character of caring for the environment in children. Pala (2011) states that the implementation of character education can be based on the behavior, traditions, habits, daily practices that are practiced by the surrounding community. Result Of Collaboration of Government Policies and The Marind Tribe Communities

283 © RIGEO ● Review of International Geographical Education 11(5), SPRING, 2021

Based on the results of research through observation and in-depth interviews, some information was obtained regarding the results of the collaboration between the government and the community, namely increased community participation and the number of mangroves planted and additional community income through planting wages.

Data OF COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION

Based on the results of research data analysis, it was found that the level of community participation in planting mangrove seedlings when there was no government assistance was low, only around 30 people. Since the existence of a government policy through the Environmental Agency, which provides financial assistance in the form of wages for planting mangrove seeds for IDR 2,500 per seed, community participation increased to 272 people divided into 68 families. The increase in community participation occurs because of the value of wages, which according to the community, has been very helpful for the family economy. If averaged, each family received an income of IDR 2,672,794 with an estimate of planting 1,033 mangrove seedlings per family. This increase was considered quite drastic because it reached 906% (Table 1).

Table 1. Differences in community participation and the number of seedlings planted before and after government assistance

Planting Planting Mangrove No Information Mangrove Seeds Seeds with Government Change (%) Independently Assistance

Number of Participants Increased by 1 (People) 30 272 906 %

Mangrove seedlings Increased by 2 planted number (seeds) 7.500 72.700 969 %

Source: Primary data, processed in 2019

Increasing community participation certainly has a positive impact on the number of mangrove seedlings planted. If previously the mangrove seedlings that could be planted independently were only about 7,500 seeds, then after the government program assistance, the number of mangrove seedlings that could be planted every year reached 72,700 mangrove seeds, or experience a drastic increase by 969%. In addition, the involvement of the government also has an impact on the location of planting mangrove seedlings that are more organized and controlled (Figure 3).

284 Sajriawati.; Amir, A.; Hiskya, H, J.; Uspayanti, R.; and Hidayat, S, H. (2021) Collaboration of Government Polici …

Figure 3. Condition of newly planted Mangrove Seeds (Source: Researcher's Personal Documents) Data on increasing community income The wage fund assistance is valued at IDR 2.500 which includes the cost of seeds and planting costs. The data on community participation and details on the costs of planting mangroves in November 2019 can be seen in table 2 below:

Table 2. Details of the Cost of Mangrove Planting on the Payum Coastal

Number of Number of families Price of seeds Planting costs Amount No Seeds (families) (IDR) (IDR) (IDR) 1 1.200 30 1.000 1.500 90.000.000 2 1.000 25 1.000 1.500 62.500.000 3 900 13 1.000 1.500 29.250.000 Total 68 181.750.000

Source: Primary Data, processed 2019

Based on the data above, it can be seen that each family received an income of IDR 2,672,794 with an estimate of planting 1,033 mangrove seedlings per family. The process of community participation in mangrove planting activities is in the category of participation being depressed by socio-economic reasons (Dusseldorp, 1981). Community participation in mangrove planting activities, for fear of suffering losses by not getting a share of the benefits of the activity, namely wages for planting mangroves.

Conclusions

Collaboration of government policies and the Marind tribe communities has a positive impact on mangrove management and also increases the income of the Marind communities who live in the Payum Coastal. There was an increase in the number of community participation in planting mangrove seeds by 906 % which also had an impact on the increase in mangrove seedlings that were able to be planted, namely by 969 %. The existence of government assistance also increases the income of participating families. It was recorded that 68 families participated in planting mangrove seedlings, consisting of husbands, wives and children. On average, each family will receive an income of IDR 2.672.794 with an estimate of planting 1,033 mangrove seedlings per family. Development activities are not just an obligation that must be carried out by the government, but also require the involvement of people who want to improve their quality of life. Community participation is a manifestation of awareness and concern and community responsibility for the importance of development aimed at improving their quality of life. Thus, giving the opportunity to participate in development must be based on the understanding that the community deserves to be given the opportunity, because it has the necessary capabilities, and the community has the right to participate and take advantage of every opportunity to build in order to improve the quality of their life.

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the Rector of Musamus University and those who have facilitated the publication of this journal.

References

Ansell, C., & Gash, A. (2008). Collaborative Governance in Theory and Practice. Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory, 18(4), 543-571. doi: 10.1093/jopart/mum032 Bhomia, R. K., Kauffman, J. B., & McFadden, T. N. (2019). SWAMP Dataset-Mangrove biomass

285 © RIGEO ● Review of International Geographical Education 11(5), SPRING, 2021

vegetation-Utila. Retrieved from: https://doi.org/10.17528/CIFOR/DATA.00122 DARMAYANTI. (2018). Mangroves and their benefits Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries of the Republic of Indonesia., from https://kkp.go.id/brsdm/bdasukamandi/artikel/4239- mangrove-dan-manfaatnya# Dusseldorp, D. v. (1981). Participation in planned development influenced by governments of developing countries at local level areas Essays in Rural Sociology in Honour of RAJ van Lier. (pp. 25-88): Agricultural University. Masiyah, S., & Arifin, T. (2016). Conditions and types of mangroves in Merauke Regency, Papua Province. . Agriculture: Journal of Fisheries Agribusiness, 9(2), 34-40. doi: https://doi.org/10.29239/j.agrikan.9.2.34-40 Nyangon, L., Zainal, A. N. S., Pazi, A. M. M., & Gandaseca, S. (2019). Heavy metals in mangrove sediments along the Selangor River, Malaysia. Forest and Society, 3(2), 278-288. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.24259/fs.v3i2.6345 Pala, A. (2011). The need for character education. International Journal of Social Sciences and Humanity Studies, 3(2), 23-32. doi: https://dergipark.org.tr/en/download/article-file/257330 Seigler, D. (2011). Renewing Democracy by Engaging Citizens in Shared Governance. [Investing in Democracy: Engaging Citizens in Collaborative Governance, Carmen Sirianni]. Public Administration Review, 71(6), 968-970. Setyorini, B. (2017). PLANTATION DEVELOPMENT THROUGH FARMING GROUP EMPOWERMENT (Case Study of “Dewi Sri” Farmer Group, Krajan Hamlet, Gondang Village, Nawangan District, Pacitan Regency, East ). JMAN Student Journal of State Administration,, 1(1), 1-10. doi: http://jom.untidar.ac.id/index.php/jman/article/view/63 Smutko, L. (2008). Managing Stakeholder Involvement in Three Ordinance Development. Paper presented at the North Carolina Urban Forestry Conference, Grensboro. Syama, J. (2015). The Role of Tribal Chiefs in Increasing Community Political Participation. Politico: Journal of Political Science, 1(7), 1128. doi: https://ejournal.unsrat.ac.id/index.php/politico/index Untarf, Y., & Jefri, S. (2018, 21 December). Analysis Of Carbon Emission Level on Merauke Regency Land Cover. Paper presented at the The 3rd International Conference on Energy, Environmental and Information System (ICENIS) E3S Web of Conferences. Untari, U., Melmambessy, E. H., & Simatupang, D. O. (2018). Carbon Emissions And Mitigation Actions In Merauke. Paper presented at the International Conference on Energy, Environment and Information System, E3S Web Conf. , Universitas Diponegoro. https://www.e3s- conferences.org/articles/e3sconf/pdf/2018/48/e3sconf_icenis18_02009.pdf

286