PADANG PARIAMAN, WEST SUMATERA — What is abrasion? This question may be very easy to answer for people who are familiar with or live in coastal areas. Abrasion itself is a process of soil erosion in coastal areas caused by destructive waves and ocean currents.
Not only that, the cause of abrasion can also be influenced by artificial factors or human actions. All of these things are caused by the massive exploitation by humans of the wealth of marine resources such as fish, coral reefs and other biota.
Of course, many negative things are born from this abrasion phenomenon. One of them is the shrinking of the coastline so that the main land area is decreasing and endangering coastal communities living by the beach. Other potential disasters will also increase with the destruction of the ecosystem that occurs on the beach.
For this reason, in an effort to create a safe and abrasion-free beach, Dompet Dhuafa Volunteer (DDV) West Sumatra organized a 1000 Mangrove Planting Movement in the Ecotourism Green Talao Park area, Padang Pariaman Regency, West Sumatra, on Sunday (04/09/2022).
Not only DDV West Sumatra was involved in this activity, various communities, campus organizations and Student Activity Units (UKM) from STIT Syekh Burhanuddin, students of FEBI UIN Imam Bonjol Padang, and students of UNAND were also involved in this activity.
“Approximately 200 participants took part in this activity. This program was initiated out of concern for the environment, especially to reduce abrasion in coastal areas,” said Minarti, a volunteer for DDV Sumbar, who is also the coordinator of this movement.
The hope is that with the holding of this movement, in addition to preserving nature and preventing abrasion, tourists visiting Green Talao Park will increase because the environment is more beautiful. Maintaining the stability of the ecosystem is also one of the main factors in the birth of this movement.
“Hopefully, this activity will also be beneficial for the local community, so that mangrove plants can prevent beach abrasion. It can also increase the appeal for tourists to visit Green Talao Park. Then to maintain the resilience of the coastal ecosystem and keep the food chain unbroken,” added Minarti. (Dompet Dhuafa / Arlen)