Society Turns Beting Village into a Mangrove Conservation Area

Public News|June 14, 2023

Beting Village in Muara Gembong District, Bekasi Regency, West Java, became famous on social media. This was because Beting Village was visited twice by President Joko Widodo.
 
Jokowi's visits were to see the bridge project by the Ministry of Public Works and Housing (Ministry of PUPR). The bridge is built to connect two villages separated by the Citarum River and serves as a transportation route for shrimp farmers.
 
Apart from its temporary fame, Beting Village was once known as the "dollar village" in the 1980s. This nickname was given because fishermen easily earned money due to abundant fish catches. The abundant income made the residents of Beting Village prosperous and far from hardship.
 
However, over time, everything changes, and the fishermen's income started to decrease. This happened in the 1990s when the local economy began to decline. The cause was because the erosion and subsidence of land.
 
This was a result of the conversion of the mangrove land into fish ponds and settlements in Pantai Bahagia Village. In fact, this conversion even led to the disappearance of three other villages and the destruction of fishermen's ponds.
 
Seeing this situation, the community began to rise and wanted to improve the environment. They started to transform the area back to a mangrove conservation area and marine tourism destination for the people of West Java.
 
The community continues to strive to make the Muara Gembong area an environmentally friendly and tourist-friendly region. Currently, 300 households are still living in Beting Village.
 
The good intentions of the residents are welcomed by PT Cikarang Listrindo Tbk (IDX: POWR) (the Company). Since 2019 until 2022, the Company has planted 5,000 mangrove trees in this conservation area. The Company also supports local tourism there.
 
The Company's restoration of the mangrove ecosystem has become a center for sustainable mangrove management education in Bekasi Regency, as well as supporting the local economy, especially those related to mangroves.
 
In addition, the Company also contributes in providing facilities that meet the needs of the residents. One of them is related to public health through the provision of clean water and sustainable sanitation facilities.
 
Even on May 10, 2023, the Company inaugurated its second clean water facility, using bioseptic tank technology for better water quality.
 
"The capacity of both clean water facilities built by the Company can meet the clean water needs of 50 households," as quoted from the official statement.
 
During the inauguration event, Ahmad Qurtubi, the Secretary of Pantai Bahagia Village, and Dadang Subagja, the Head of the Economic Development Section of Muara Gembong Sub-district, were present.
 
The Company did this because Beting Village, located around the estuary of the Citarum tributary and only 1 km from the coastline, had limited access to basic health facilities such as clean water and sanitation.
 
Furthermore, the Company also provides education and socialization to residents to build and change their lifestyles to become healthier. This includes the use of clean water and proper sanitation, as well as explaining the impact of daily activities on the marine ecosystem.
 
The steps taken by Cikarang Listrindo to provide clean water and proper sanitation facilities in Beting Village, Muara Gembong, are aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
 
Meanwhile, the regular mangrove tree planting activities are an implementation of SDG 15, which focuses on protecting terrestrial ecosystems.
 
By promoting mangrove planting, it is hoped that the resilience of the mangrove ecosystem will become a natural barrier that protects the coastal area from erosion and natural disasters, provides habitat for various flora and fauna species, and reduces vulnerability to climate change.
 
Moreover, the 5,000 mangrove trees that have been planted are predicted to absorb approximately 48.1 tons of CO2 per year, which will also help to mitigate the climate impact in the area.
 
On the other hand, the provision of clean water and sanitation facilities is an implementation of SDG 6, which is the universal access to clean water and sanitation.
 
The Company continues to spread goodness with the spirit of its employees, which is "Light that Brings Goodness," by actively participating in building a better community. This step is expected to inspire stakeholders and all parties to join in the efforts to develop Indonesia as a nation.
 
Source: CNN Indonesia (English version translated by the Company)