Promoting Ecosystem-based Adaptation for Coastal Communities in Lembata through Improved Muro Governance
03 December 2024
Lembata, Nusa Tenggara Timur, 3 December 2024 – Lembata Regency faces serious threats from climate change and marine ecosystem degradation exacerbated by unsustainable fishing practices. In response to these challenges, Yayasan Plan International Indonesia (Plan Indonesia), in collaboration with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and supported by the Global EbA Fund, launched the Empowering Youth Led EbA (Ecosystem-based Adaptation/EbA) Program. The program aims to improve the governance of Muro, a local wisdom of marine conservation, by involving youth and local communities.
As a first step, Plan Indonesia and Yayasan Bina Sejahtera Baru Lembata (YBS Baru) held a Start-Up Workshop today. This activity brought together various stakeholders to discuss work plans as well as implementation strategies for this program.
Erlina Dangu, Program Implementation Area Manager of Plan Indonesia, explained that Muro conservation is a cultural heritage that has an important role in preserving coral reefs and mangroves.
“Muro is a practice that not only supports environmental conservation, but is also a source of livelihood in difficult times for coastal communities. Unfortunately, this practice is starting to be abandoned. Through this program, we want to rebuild awareness of the importance of Muro by actively engaging the younger generation to monitor, manage and conserve marine and coastal ecosystems,” said Erlina.
“The people of Lembata have various forms of conservation based on local wisdom, one of which is marine conservation and coastal areas which have various names based on the topography and language style of each indigenous community. Some people call it badu, others recognize it as Muru and also Muro. In addition to these two terms, there are still several other names that we will explore together through this program,” said Kornelia Penaten, Director of Bina Sejahtera Baru Lembata Foundation.
The ecosystem adaptation (EbA) based approach in this program is expected to increase the resilience of coastal communities to climate change related disasters such as tsunamis, abrasion, and extreme weather, while reducing pressure on marine ecosystems due to overfishing and pollution. In addition, the program aims to increase community and stakeholder awareness on the importance of conserving natural resources and biodiversity.
“The program also encourages the integration of environmental, social and economic aspects in Lembata Island’s future planning, so that the younger generation can become agents of change as well as supporters of sustainable development,” Erlina added.
In the long term, Muro is expected to become a model of marine ecosystem protection that not only preserves nature, but also improves the food security of coastal communities. This practice will be promoted to be replicated in other coastal villages as a real step in dealing with climate change and maintaining environmental sustainability.
