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NEARLY 200 students from elementary and secondary schools in Aceh, Indonesia recently got their hands dirty for a good cause - to raise awareness on the importance of protecting and propagating mangrove forests in Aceh, Indonesia, one of the hardest hit regions during the deadly tsunami in December 2004.

Azzur, one of the students who took part in the planting event, said that this activity benefited him and his friends. “We planted the mangrove to restore our village green belt, and by doing that we can help the earth, which is in need of more oxygen,” he said.

Through the support of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), students from three schools planted 1,000 mangroves at the Ujong Blang village, Banda Sakti sub-district of Lhokseumawe. The planting activity was the culmination of the two-day Schools’ Mangrove Awareness Campaign Project, which sought to draw the attention and concern of the youth for the mangrove ecosystem and educate them on how to go about protecting and nurturing mangrove forests. The campaign took place between August 25-26.

“There are many mangrove planting campaigns currently being conducted, but usually with limited efforts to raise awareness among the youth,” said Pieter Smidt, Head of ADB’s Extended Mission in Sumatera. “That is why we are pleased to see that the elementary and junior high students are actively involved in conducting this environment and mangrove planting awareness campaign.”

ADB has provided a grant of $291 million to finance the Earthquake and Tsunami Emergency Project, which supports, among others, the rehabilitation of livelihoods of coastal communities affected by the tsunami. It also includes assistance for restoring mangrove forests and the coastal ecosystem.

The project is being implemented by Badan Rehabilitasi Dan Rekonstruksi (BRR), otherwise known as the Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Agency for Aceh and Nias. During the planting event BRR’s Director of Marine and Fisheries Development, Mr. Zulhamsyah Imran, commented: “We are glad to help raise the awareness of students about the importance of mangrove and of maintaining the coastal environment”.

Mangroves are important ecosystems and are often referred to as the “lungs of the world.” They are vital to the economy of coastal communities like those in Aceh and are viewed as a crucial ecological resource.

“Communities do not always understand the far-reaching benefits of mangrove forests,” said Mr. Smidt. “Care for and concern towards mangrove forest must be planted from youth. Through conducting the mangrove planting campaign with children, we hope to support a long-term change in outlook in the communities.”

The fisheries component of the Earthquake and Tsunami Emergency Project has already rehabilitated mangrove and coastal ecosystems in several districts of Aceh – a testament to ADB’s commitment to play a prominent role in the environmentally sound rehabilitation of the coastal areas of Aceh and the nearby island of Nias in the aftermath of the tsunami. The latest batch of mangrove seedlings planted brings to 1 million mangroves already planted under this component.

“We are banking on the spirit of the young people of Aceh to take care of the 1,000 mangrove seedlings which we have planted. Let this be an example for the younger generation for them to help conserve their environment,” said Mr. Smidt.

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