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Three Rescue Missions

Syahnan Rangkuti

· 5 minutes read

What is the connection between mangrove, kelulut honey and land fires? Literally, there is no connection. However, in the hands of Setiono, 39, a resident of Rawa Mekar Jaya kampung, Sungai Apit district, Siak, Riau, those three things are linked in a conservation mission.

Until a decade ago, the name Sungai Apit was still synonymous with underdevelopment. Understandably, as most villages in the district are still isolated from the outside world. It was no exception with Rawa Mekar Jaya kampung, which is a division of Sungai Rawa. At that time, there was no bridge connecting the district capital with the village on the edge of Sumatra Island, which borders the Rangsang Straits in the Meranti Islands Regency, Riau.

The backwardness and isolation worsened when illegal loggers capitalized on residents cutting trees in the natural peat swamp forests. Not only did this kill large trees, the village\'s mangrove forests were also cut down to produce charcoal. When trees start to run out, the open land is cultivated by first burning it. Not surprisingly, until 2013, land and forest fires always occurred in the village.

At the end of 2013, a village youth named Setiono, who was then the secretary of the Rawa Mekar Jaya kampung, was surprised to see the conditions. The father of two sons was determined to improve the situation. He, along with five village youths, then formed the Community Concerned About Fires (MPA) to deal with the fires.

In order for the MPA movement to be welcomed, Setiono did not immediately prohibit residents from clearing land by burning. Even so, the MPA strictly regulated land clearing. Residents who opened land, for example, should plant timber on thin peat locations and have water sources to put out fires. They cannot burn forested areas in large quantities. The days for burning must be agreed upon. When a fire is lit, it must be monitored until it is completely extinguished.

For nearly six years there has never been another land fire in our village.

Setiono’s MPA method does not comply with government regulations, which do not allow land burning. However, the MPA pattern had an extraordinary impact. Since 2014, there has never been a fire in Rawa Mekar Jaya kampung. "For nearly six years there has never been another land fire in our village," he said, at the end of July 2019.

Some government agencies, non-governmental organizations and corporations have helped procure supporting facilities and infrastructure. Now their equipment is complete with pumping machines, offices and equipment warehouses as well as a fire tower that stands 30 meters high beside the MPA office.

Because there were no major fires in the village, the MPA, which has 25 members, was often asked to help put out fires in the neighboring village. Setiono also often assists in MPA firefighter training, both from neighboring villages and other districts.

In 2016, the MPA received the best predicate in Riau Province and was second best in Wana Lestari according to the Environment and Forestry Ministry.

Saving the mangrove

After establishing the MPA group, Setiono undertook a private mission. He and four of his friends searched for mangrove seeds and planted them in a barren mangrove forest on the riverbank, whose water level rose and fell according to tidal patterns, at the end of 2013. The area of the mangrove forest in the village was heavily damaged. At that time, on the edge of the forest there was a panglong (charcoal factory), which was actively cutting down the mangroves and receiving supplies of wood from the residents.

"The panglong workers didn\'t only take the bark. Mangrove roots were also cut down. Our mangrove was gone. Tidal water reached into the yard and the land could not be planted with vegetables," said Setiono.

In 2015, Setiono resigned from his position as village secretary because he wanted to focus on land conservation. He began to grow mangroves. Their efforts finally received the attention of the government and the public.

"At present we have 7,000 mangrove seeds ready for planting. There are already companies that want to buy seeds [to be planted in the villages]. Since 2013, we have planted 40,000 mangrove seeds and all of them have grown and developed," he said.

Within six years, Setiono and his friends had recovered 25 hectares of village mangrove forest that had been in ruins. Only 19 hectares remain to be re-greened. The improvement of the mangrove forest has had a positive impact on the environment. Residents can grow vegetables again in their yards. Giant prawns that had disappeared in the village are now reappearing in stable numbers.

For the past three years, Setiono has been making a group effort with kelulut honey bees. Initially only two people were interested. Now the members of this honey group amount to 30 people. This honey business is growing.

Thanks to his work in preserving nature and controlling land fires in his village, Setiono has been nominated to be the recipient of the 2019 Kalpataru award along with 134 other candidates from across the archipelago. In early July, the Environment and Forestry Ministry named Setiono in among the top three nominees for the Kalpataru.

Setiono

Born: Rawa Mekar Jaya, Siak regency, 17 August 1980

Wife: Sulastri

Children: Novia Suci Ramadani, Muhammad Arif Saputra

Education:

- SD Sungai Rawa, graduated in 1993

- MTs Sungai Rawa, 1998

- SMA Package C learning program

Editor:

kompascetak setiono