Petronela Merauje, Women's Expression in Protecting Mangrove Forests

For Mama Nela, mangroves as a source of livelihood for the community must continue to be protected by empowering women.

KOMPAS/NASRUN KATINGKA

Petronela Merauje (43) or Mama Nela, an environmental activist from Enggros Village, Abepura District, Jayapura City, Papua.

For Enggros women, mangrove forests as an ancestral heritage are a very meaningful source of livelihood. They hold the prerogative in its use, while making this "women's forest” a place of freedom of expression.

"Since the time of our ancestors, mangroves have been passed down to women who manage them, that's why we call them women's forests. "We also hold the responsibility to continue to protect this ecosystem," said Petronela Merauje (43) or Mama Nela in Enggros Village, Abepura District, Jayapura City , Papua, Thursday (9/5/2024).

In the last dozen years, Mama Nela has become a figure of an Enggros woman who continues to consistently advocate for environmental conservation for the sake of mangrove sustainability in Youtefa Bay, here. She also consistently empowers Enggros women to utilize the various potentials of women's mangrove forests.

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Mama Nela tells the story that this utilization heritage has been passed down from generation to generation and given to women in two villages in Teluk Youtefa, namely Enggros and Tobati. These two villages are adjacent to each other near Youtefa Bridge.

Men are given the right to utilize various potentials that exist in the sea, while women act as guardians as well as beneficiaries of the existing mangrove forest.

ARSIP PRIBADI PETRONELA MERAUJE

The activities of Petronela Merauje (43), also known as Mama Nela, in searching for shells and crabs in the "women's forest" in Enggros Village, Abepura District, Jayapura City, Papua.

Therefore, it is not surprising that women are free to express themselves in the women's forest. This place has become a meeting point for them to share many stories about life.

Men are only allowed to enter the forest for specific purposes and with customary permission. This free space allows Enggros women to easily take off their clothes when they are looking for clams or crabs.

"In the mangrove, there is mud. To make it easier to move around and prevent clothing from getting muddy, one must be naked. This also serves as a therapy for the body," said Mama Nela.

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Meanwhile, Mama Nela feels that women in Enggros need to be more sensitive to the condition of mangroves amidst the continued development of the city. The threat of waste and deforestation is inevitable and could threaten their ecosystem, a source of their livelihood.

"This is our forest, a women's forest. So, we are also responsible for preserving the area for the sustainability of this ecosystem in the future," she said.

Starting to care

Mama Nela's concern began when she saw the various impacts of the rapid development of Jayapura City. For example, garbage has turned Youtefa Bay into an urban waste dumping site originating from households and industries around Abepura District. In addition, the need for urban development space is also eroding the mangrove land area in Youtefa Bay.

"Household and industrial waste are increasingly flowing into the bay. In addition, the use of open space is also reducing our mangrove forests," he said.

KOMPAS/NASRUN KATINGKA

The planting of mangroves in commemoration of Wetlands Day in the Teluk Youtefa area, Jayapura, Papua, on Wednesday (2/7/2024). Mama Nela also participated in this activity.

In 2011, he joined a group of young environmental activists in Jayapura and formed the Forum Peduli Port Numbay Green (FPPNG). Over the years, this movement has been active in mangrove reforestation and cleaning up Teluk Youtefa from household waste.

Throughout its journey, the community has experienced ups and downs. However, it remains determined to continue its environmental concern, particularly for the sustainability of women's forests.

Since our ancestors' time, mangroves have been inherited by women who manage them, which is why we call it a woman's forest. We also hold the responsibility of continuously preserving this ecosystem.

In 2018, Mama Nela established the Ibayauw Studio to harness the potential of mangrove-derived products and handcrafts made from recycled plastic waste. She invited a dozen housewives from Enggros Village to join the studio.

"The fruit from mangroves can be used to make juice or snacks. In addition, at my workshop, we also empower mothers to make handicraft products such as bags, flower vases, and bracelets from waste that ends up in the mangrove forest," he said.

KOMPAS/FABIO MARIA LOPES COSTA

From this tourist spot, visitors can see local people using boats for daily activities.

On the other hand, he also initiated a movement for the community to be self-sufficient in cleaning and managing household waste. Through the Monj Hen Wani Community formed in 2023, he regularly conducts voluntary activities for managing household waste as an effort to reduce waste that pollutes Teluk Youtefa.

Thanks to various contributions and care over the years, Mama Nela received the Kalpataru award from the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK). This award to a figure who is considered to have contributed to environmental preservation was given directly by the Minister of Environment and Forestry, Siti Nurbaya Bakar, in June 2023.

"This award is a personal motivation to do more. Hopefully, it will also encourage other women, especially in Jayapura, to take action. When women become more aware of the many benefits, they will be more motivated to preserve the mangrove," she said.

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Exclusive tour for women

On the other hand, Mama Nela also believes that with the increasingly protected forest, there is potential for other benefits that can be gained from the Teluk Youtefa mangroves. She sees that the unique value of the women's forest could become an attractive tourism potential.

She envisions a women's forest to become an exclusive tourism destination for women. The presence of this women's tourism is expected to make housewives more enthusiastic in producing and marketing various processed products.

KOMPAS/NASRUN KATINGKA

Petronela Merauje (43) or Mama Nela, an environmental activist from Enggros Village, Abepura District, Jayapura City, Papua.

"This should be a attraction. Later on, tourists will be taken to see the methods of catching clams or crabs. In addition, tourists can also be invited to bathe freely with nakedness. This can be a natural therapy," he said.

Moreover, Mama Nela hopes that these various movements are able to mobilize women from different generations in Enggros to participate in preserving the environment. Therefore, this ecosystem will work together to maintain the sustainability of the women's forest as a legacy from ancestors and a provider of livelihoods.

Born: Jayapura, February 21 1981

Education: D-3 Management of the Indonesian Academy of Secretaries and Management Jayapura (2014-2018)

Award: Winner of Kalpataru 2023 from the Ministry of Environment and Forestry