Remarkable Survival Rate of 2022/2023 Plantings
Workshops to Address Deforestation and Community Development in North Sumatra
Uniting to Sustain Forests and Empower Communities in North Sumatra.
Written By
Global Mangrove Trust
In mid-September 2024, GMT, in collaboration with YAGASU, hosted a series of co-design workshops across four villages in North Sumatra—Pulau Kampai, Pangkalan Siata, Halaban, and Salahaji. These three-day workshops aimed to engage communities in co-developing solutions to tackle the urgent challenges of deforestation while creating pathways for sustainable livelihoods.
Led by Dr. Ryan Merrill, with support from Dr. Mohamed Abdelwareth, Matteo De Bassi, and Dr. Melinda Harefa from YAGASU, our team gathered villagers from all walks of life: farmers, fishers, village leaders, and women artisans. It wasn’t just about presenting solutions; it was about listening. By immersing ourselves in their perspectives, we gained a deeper understanding of the economic pressures and external forces driving deforestation, such as the increasing demand for charcoal. While village leaders acknowledged that many households were involved in tree-cutting, addressing these challenges meant looking beyond numbers—it required embracing the community’s vision for a sustainable future and ensuring that the solutions came from within.
Listening to Local Voices
The discussions revealed a recurring theme: the economic necessity of logging, driven by high charcoal demand, had become a major pressure point for many families. As we sat in conversations under community halls, villagers shared their concerns and aspirations. They spoke about the delicate balance between meeting their immediate needs and safeguarding their environment for future generations. Through these stories, it became clear that any long-lasting change would have to be rooted in the unique context of each village, drawing directly from their lived experiences and practical wisdom.
Action Chains for Change
Central to our workshop approach was the “Action Chain” framework, a method that helped participants connect behaviors to outcomes and envision steps for change. Together, we mapped out how specific actions could address the underlying issues driving deforestation. Using the framework, which focused on Group, Context, and Behavior, villagers outlined their priorities and discussed how change could be achieved.
We shared worksheets that encouraged participants to think critically about their actions: how behaviors impacted outcomes, the ease of reaching and influencing different groups, and whether the context was well-understood or needed further clarity. This hands-on process allowed the community to take ownership of the solutions, fostering a sense of agency in their roles as stewards of the land.
In parallel, we introduced the concept of Levers of Change, using simple diagrams to illustrate how effective policies could act as a fulcrum—amplifying the community’s efforts into tangible results. These discussions underscored the role of supportive regulations, local enforcement, and the creation of alternative livelihoods as essential components for the success of community-driven initiatives like the proposed Gearbank.
Community-Driven Solutions
The workshops brought forth a wealth of ideas, each reflecting the community’s creativity and commitment to finding solutions that aligned with their way of life. One of the most promising was the Gearbank initiative—a community-led program that would provide subsidized fishing gear and training, helping loggers transition to sustainable fishing practices. This concept, proposed by several groups, envisioned a model where women would manage the distribution of equipment, generating additional income through activities like producing salted fish and shrimp paste.
Other groups suggested creating mangrove-based handicrafts, leveraging local artisans’ skills to produce value-added products that could support both economic development and environmental stewardship. Meanwhile, some participants proposed the introduction of policies to promote alternative fuels like biomass briquettes, aiming to reduce the pressure on mangrove resources by decreasing charcoal demand.
A Path Forward
The workshops marked the beginning of a collaborative journey toward sustainable resource management. Rather than imposing solutions, GMT and YAGASU are working alongside communities to pilot these ideas, starting with the Gearbank in select villages. This approach ensures that every step is informed by local knowledge and guided by continuous feedback, making the solutions more adaptable and resilient.
By grounding our efforts in the realities of village life and fostering an environment where the community leads the way, we are building a foundation for a future where conservation and development go hand in hand. With strategic policy support and the unwavering spirit of the communities of North Sumatra, we are confident that together, we can forge a path toward resilience—one that nurtures both the mangrove ecosystems and the livelihoods they support.
Written By
Global Mangrove Trust
