Determination of mangrove green belt width based on the ecological and socio-economic aspect in Sawah Luhur Village, Serang City, Banten

Zen LZ, Rahaju S, Hero Y. 2012. Determination of mangrove green belt width based on ecological and socio-economic aspect in Sawah Luhur Village, Serang City, Banten. Bonorowo Wetlands 2: 52-65. The aim of this study was to examine the green belt policy and environmental condition in coastal area of Sawah Luhur Village, Kasemen Sub-district, Serang City, Banten, and to determine the decision-making solution of green belt policy in the village refers to ecological and socio-economic aspects. This study was based on primary and secondary data. Policy review was based on Presidential Decree (Keppres) no. 32 of 1990 on Protected Forest Area and Serang City Regulation (Perda) no. 6 of 2011 on Spatial Planning of the Region. Biophysical studies were conducted through ground check and classified land into agricultural land, farms, settlements, forested areas, buffer zones, rivers, and roads. The socio-economic study was conducted through interviews with 30 respondents, i.e., community, government officials in the villages, sub-districts, and cities, as well as students. Based on the Presidential Decree, with average difference of sea water tides is 0.7 m, then the width of green belt in Sawah Luhur coastal area is 91 m, and with the length of the coastline is 4.97 km, then the green belt area is 45.18 ha. However, ground checks indicate that the mangrove green belt area is only covering 50.19% or 22.68 ha, which mostly consists of Pulau Dua Nature Reserve. Therefore, the extent of the green belt is not implemented optimally in accordance with the Presidential Decree. In the Serang City Regulation, the determination of mangrove green belt is not explained. Currently, the people of Sawah Luhur Village have difficulty to meet the needs of clean water due to the intrusion of sea water that reaches 4 km to the mainland, which is exacerbated by drought due to the long dry season. Besides, pollution and environmental degradation reduce pond productivity and agriculture, thus affecting the income of the majority of people. To increase the productivity of land, one of them is by exploiting and planting coastal area. According to respondents, coastal land is better utilized as a silvofishery (tambak tumpangsari), because it has advantages ecologically, economically, and tourism. If silvofishery can be realized and can be utilized properly, then all parties will benefit in various aspects.