Year: 2023 | Month: September | Volume: 10 | Issue: 9 | Pages: 368-382
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijrr.20230938
Empowering Coastal Communities: Enhancing Income via Carbon Trading Initiatives (Collaboration between JGU-FH and USU)
Mahmul Siregar1, Mohammad Ekaputra2, Vita Cita Emia Tarigan3, Agus Purwoko4
1,2,3Lecturers, Faculty of Law, Universitas Sumatera Utara Medan, North Sumatera, Indonesia
4Lecturer, Faculty of Forestry, Universitas Sumatera Utara Medan, North Sumatera, Indonesia
Corresponding Author: Mahmul Siregar
ABSTRACT
In Tanjung Rejo Village, a Mangrove Ecotourism destination located in Deli Serdang Regency, a significant gap in knowledge pertaining to Carbon Trading has been identified. This knowledge deficit has resulted in the mangrove plantation being undertaken merely as a routine task, neglecting the potential financial benefits that these mangroves could generate for Tanjung Rejo Village. It is therefore considered imperative to conduct an educational campaign aimed at raising community awareness regarding the critical importance of preserving and efficiently managing their mangrove forests as a valuable local asset. To address this issue, the Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) methodology will be employed, involving active engagement with the residents of Tanjung Rejo Village. The PRA method is specifically designed to instill awareness and facilitate self-realization within the community. This will be achieved through a series of structured activities, including group discussions and the exchange of experiences and knowledge. The project will be executed in a systematic manner. It will commence with a pre-test assessment that includes written evaluations and discussion sessions. The purpose of this initial phase is to ascertain the baseline knowledge levels of 30 community members and 10 village government officials regarding the concept of Carbon Trading. Following this, knowledge dissemination will be carried out through lectures and discussions, featuring invited subject matter experts. Subsequently, a post-test will be administered to gauge the extent of knowledge acquired by the participants concerning Carbon Trading. This initiative is being undertaken in Tanjung Rejo Village, which boasts a substantial mangrove forest covering an impressive 602,181 hectares. This vast natural resource presents a significant opportunity for the community to derive supplementary income through the carbon sequestration properties of the mangroves. By imparting knowledge and raising awareness among 30 residents and 10 village officials, the project aims to lay the groundwork for Tanjung Rejo Village to more effectively harness their mangrove forest as a valuable village asset. This community engagement effort also involves collaboration with esteemed professors from Jindal Global University (JGU) in India, who will serve as valuable partners in the endeavor. Funding for the project is secured from both USU and JGU sources.
Keywords: Village Income, Coastal Tourism, Carbon Trading
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