SUSTAINABILITY OF THE PROJECT (EXIT STRATEGY)

8.3. SUSTAINABILITY OF THE PROJECT (EXIT STRATEGY)

a. Encourage an exit strategy through the proposal of GC demo sites

From the bio-physical and socio-economic assessments carried out by WI-IP on all Green Coast sites, eleven (11) sites were identified as possessing important ecological and economic values. On this basis, therefore, the project recommends that these selected sites should

be managed by the community together with other stakeholders as sustainable Demo sites. These eleven sites are described in the table below.

126 An Assessment of Lessons Learnt from the “Green Coast Project” in NAD Province and Nias Island

An Assessment of Lessons Learnt from the “Green Coast Project” in NAD Province and Nias Island 127

Besides possessing important values, these eleven sites are judged to have succeeded in carrying out activities in the field. Because these sites are so important, it would be most regrettable if their management were to cease in mid-course when the Green Coast project ends in March 2009. Related to this, GC Indonesia has officially submitted a letter to the Aceh Province government (Annex 1), proposing that these eleven demo sites (Annex 2) resulting from Green Coast activity should:

• receive official recognition (in writing) and be publicised by the Regional Governments of NAD and Nias for their important values and benefits to the environment and com- munity (please determine the most effective way of conveying this)

Table 20. Selected sites recommended as demo sites.

Characteristics

Sandy beach, river estuary, tambak ponds, hills (Temega hill)

Sandy beach, mudflats, brackish swamp, former tambak ponds

River estuary, mudflats and brackish-salt water swamp (former paddy fields)

Sandy beach, brackish swamp and hills

Sandy beach with sand dunes and river estuary

Sandy beach with sand dunes, tambak ponds and river estuary

Tambak ponds and river. In the 1960s around 900 ha of this area was mangrove forest, which was then cleared to make way for tambak ponds and housing. The loss of this mangrove is thought to have worsened the impact of the Tsunami

Brackish to salt water lagoon (about 15 ha) formed after the Tsunami. The mouth of the lagoon is sometimes blocked by sand, sometimes open. In the hills near the lagoon, Lutung, long tailed macaques, pig-tailed macaques (Beruk), gibbons (Siamang) and several species of hornbills can

be found.In the lagoon are several species of fish of important economic value (such as: Kakap/Serakap, Tengoh, Tanda, Merah mata, Bayam/Kerape)

Coral reef, sandy beach, rocky beach, hills.

Beautiful, clean white sandy beach.Adjacent to Taman Wisata Laut Pulau Weh marine park in the Selat Rubiah strait (coral reef area 2600 ha)

A coastal lagoon (area 47 ha) surrounded by mangrove forest (area 66ha with 20 species of mangrove). The morphology of the lagoon has the shape of a sting ray, very rich in both terrestrial and aquatic biodiversity. Conservation of the lagoon will support the sustainability of fishers’ livelihoods, prevent seawater intrusion, support eco-tourism and play a role in the mitigation of and adaptation to global climate change.

Site

Desa Krueng Tunong Sub-district Jaya Kabupaten Aceh Jaya

Desa CeunamprongSub-district Jaya Kabupaten Aceh Jaya

Desa Keude UngahSub-district Jaya Kabupaten Aceh Jaya

Desa Gle JongSub-district Jaya Kabupaten Aceh Jaya

Desa Kajhu Kec. Baitussalam, Kabupaten Aceh Besar

Desa Gampong Baroe Sub-district Mesjid Raya, Kabupaten Aceh Besar

Desa Lham Ujong,Kec. Baitussalam, Kabupaten Aceh Besar

Desa Pulot, Kec. Leupung. Kabupaten Aceh Besar.

Kelurahan Anoi Itam Sub-district Sukajaya, Kota Sabang

Pinueng Cabeng, Kelurahan Iboih, Sub-district Sukakarya, Kota Sabang

Luaha Talu, Laguna Desa Teluk Belukar Sub-district Gunung Sitoli Utara, Kab. Nias

No.

• continue to exist (if possible, funds should be allocated, e.g. from the regional budget/ APBD), to be nurtured and not be converted to other functions that would be detrimen- tal to the environment and local community

be fully utilized for the interests of eco-tourism and as a vehicle for environmental edu- cation for the general public (including government apparatus, NGOs, research insti- tutes, colleges of higher education, school children, etc.)

These steps together form the project’s exit strategy to ensure the sustainability of the activities, particularly at the successful sites having important values for the environment and community.

Unfortunately, however, the regional government has not yet given the green light as a positive response to this proposal. Various efforts therefore need to be made to achieve government recognition of the demo sites and the sustainability of the activities. These efforts include the following:

• Continue the administrative process already in progress, for example by monitoring and accompanying letters to regional government, and making efforts to obtain a positive response from regional government

• Continually lobby the local government •

Boost campaigning and promotion of these eleven proposed demo sites so as to sup- port the process underway.

• Coordinate and work together with the community and other parties in order to con- vince the government of the importance of conserving these eleven demo sites.

b. Sustained maintenance

A key factor in the success of rehabilitation activities is the continued care and maintenance of the plants. This includes replenishment, pest and disease control, and weeding.

Sadly, monitoring has detected that the plants are not being looked after well or regularly. Only a few local partners continue to tend the plants and secure the planting site. As the end of the project draws near, the worry arises that the plants will be abandoned by the local partners and community. To avoid this, efforts need to be made to ensure that the plants continue to be cared for in the field. Some steps that can be taken are as follows:

Make the local partner and community understand the plants’ need to be cared for

• Make it a condition that tending the plants is one of the local partner’s responsibilities, even when the project has finished

Coordinate with a relevant governmental body (such the Forestry Office / Dinas Kehutanan and DKP) to explore cooperation in caring for the plants.

128 An Assessment of Lessons Learnt from the “Green Coast Project” in NAD Province and Nias Island