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| Illustration By Ai |
Mangrove forests along the coast of Simboro District, Mamuju Regency, West Sulawesi, generate significant economic value through their natural role in protecting shorelines. A study conducted by Nurhalisah, Haryanto, Binayanti, Israwahyudi, and Ilham from Universitas Muhammadiyah Mamuju between May and June 2026 estimated that the coastal protection services provided by mangroves in the area are worth approximately IDR 217.12 billion. The findings highlight how mangrove ecosystems contribute not only to environmental sustainability but also to substantial economic savings by reducing the need for costly coastal defense infrastructure.
Indonesia’s coastal regions face
increasing environmental pressures from climate change, coastal development,
and land-use conversion. In this context, mangrove ecosystems serve as one of
the most effective natural defenses against coastal hazards. Their complex root
systems, trunks, and canopy structures absorb wave energy, slow water currents,
trap sediments, and help stabilize shorelines. These functions reduce the risks
of coastal erosion, wave damage, and tidal flooding.
Simboro District is located along
the Makassar Strait, an area characterized by active coastal dynamics and
continuous wave exposure. Because of these conditions, the district depends
heavily on the ecological services provided by mangrove forests to maintain
shoreline stability and protect coastal communities from environmental threats.
To assess the value of these
ecosystem services, the research team applied a quantitative descriptive
approach. Mangrove coverage and distribution were mapped using Sentinel-2
satellite imagery processed with QGIS software and verified through field surveys.
The economic value of coastal protection services was then estimated using the
Replacement Cost Method (RCM), which calculates how much it would cost to
replace the natural protection offered by mangroves with artificial structures
such as breakwaters or coastal embankments.
The study found that Simboro District contains approximately 64.06 hectares of
mangrove cover distributed along its coastline. These mangrove forests protect
a total shoreline length of 15,460 meters, demonstrating their extensive role
in safeguarding coastal areas from erosion and wave impacts.
Using construction cost data for breakwaters, the researchers calculated a
replacement cost of IDR 14,043,994.61 per meter. When multiplied by the length
of coastline protected by mangroves, the estimated economic value of the
ecosystem’s coastal protection service reached IDR 217,120,156,671, or
approximately IDR 217.12 billion.
According to the researchers, this figure should not be interpreted as actual
government spending. Instead, it represents the theoretical cost that would be
required to build artificial coastal protection structures if the mangrove
ecosystem were no longer available. In other words, mangroves provide a service
worth hundreds of billions of rupiah at no direct cost to society.
The study also emphasizes that the effectiveness of mangroves depends not only
on their total area but also on vegetation density and overall ecosystem
condition. Areas with denser and more continuous mangrove cover generally
provide stronger protection against wave energy and coastal erosion than
fragmented or degraded mangrove zones.
The findings reinforce the
growing recognition that mangrove conservation is both an environmental and
economic priority. Damage to mangrove ecosystems can increase coastal
vulnerability while creating additional financial burdens for governments and
communities that may need to invest in engineered coastal defense structures.
Maintaining healthy mangrove forests, on the other hand, supports long-term
ecological resilience and economic efficiency.
For policymakers, coastal
managers, and local communities, the research provides valuable evidence
supporting sustainable mangrove management and rehabilitation programs. With an
estimated value exceeding IDR 217 billion, the mangrove forests of Simboro District
can be regarded as a strategic natural asset that contributes directly to
coastal protection, environmental sustainability, and public welfare.
Author Profile
Nurhalisah, the lead
author of the study, collaborated with Haryanto, Binayanti, Israwahyudi, and
Ilham, all of whom are affiliated with Universitas Muhammadiyah Mamuju,
Indonesia. Their academic interests include coastal resource management,
mangrove ecosystem conservation, environmental economics, and sustainable
coastal development.
Research Source
Article Title: Coastal
Protection Service as an Indirect Benefit of Mangrove Forest in the Coastal
Area of Simboro District, Mamuju Regency
Authors: Nurhalisah, Haryanto, Binayanti, Israwahyudi, and Ilham
Journal: International Journal of Applied and Advanced
Multidisciplinary Research (IJAAMR)
Volume and Issue: Vol. 4, No. 8
Year of Publication: 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.59890/ijaamr.v4i8.305
Journal URL: https://nvlmultitechpublisher.my.id/index.php/ijaamr/index
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