Ecosystem Restoration and Community Empowerment in the Northern Coastal Region of Central Java

Our Activities

The Ecosystem Restoration and Community Empowerment Program in the Northern Coastal and Marine Areas of Central Java is a strategic initiative designed to improve coastal environmental quality while strengthening the long-term welfare of coastal communities. This program is a CSR collaboration between PT PLN (Persero) and PT Pelabuhan Indonesia (Persero), implemented in partnership with the SDGs Center of Diponegoro University and the Sustainability Indonesia Foundation as scientific and community empowerment executors. The initiative provides tangible contributions to the restoration of coastal ecosystems affected by abrasion, habitat degradation, and economic pressures, while simultaneously enhancing community capacity to utilize fisheries resources in a more productive, innovative, and sustainable manner.

The first component of the program focuses on Ecosystem Restoration, implemented through the deployment of Artificial Patch Reefs (APR) and Artificial Fish Apartments (AFA) made from eco-friendly FABA-based concrete. These APR and AFA structures are placed at strategic points in coastal waters to restore fish habitats, increase marine biodiversity, and strengthen ecosystem functions that support local fish stocks. The use of FABA as a material for artificial reefs represents an innovative and safe utilization of industrial by-products, supporting circular economy principles. This restoration effort is expected to enhance water productivity and improve the ecological carrying capacity of the northern coastal region of Central Java.

The second component focuses on Community Empowerment, carried out through a series of capacity-building activities for fishers and community groups. Fishers are assisted in identifying potential fishing grounds using GPS fish finder technology and satellite-based analysis, enabling more efficient operations, reduced fuel costs, and improved catch results. Coastal communities also receive support to increase the economic value of fishery products through hygienic product diversification, the development of sanitation-based processing technologies, and training in zero-waste fishery waste management that transforms waste into value-added products. In addition, the program assists communities in sustainable digital marketing of fishery products, helping expand market access and increase income. Community institutions are strengthened through training in organizational management, business governance, and leadership skills, ensuring the creation of resilient, adaptive, and economically independent community groups.

Overall, this program serves as a multi-stakeholder model that integrates ecosystem restoration with socio-economic community empowerment. Through an approach that combines environmental recovery and community capacity-building, the initiative is expected to contribute to the creation of a more resilient, productive, and sustainable northern coastal region of Central Java.

Project Benifits

The Output!

1. Four (4) units of Artificial Patch Reefs (APR) made from FABA concrete will increase coral reef area and biodiversity in the shallow waters of Jepara.

2. Four (4) units of Artificial Fish Apartments (AFA) made from FABA concrete will expand fishing grounds in the coastal waters of Semarang.

3. The APR and AFA artificial habitat structures made from FABA concrete will recycle 25 tons of coal waste into FABA-based concrete substrate products used for constructing APR and AFA units.

4. Community capacity building in: a. Management of Artificial Fish Apartments (AFA) made from FABA concrete
b. Use of GPS Fish Finder and Satellite Image Analysis to improve fishing operations and catch productivity
c. Processing of fishery products to increase economic value
d. Utilization of fishery waste for added value and zero-waste implementation
e. Sustainable digital marketing to strengthen product branding for fishery-based businesses

5. Formation of community group institutions.

6. Documentation of program implementation in the form of reports, photos, videos, and training modules.