COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT IN PLANTING VEGETATION TO REDUCE COASTAL ABRASION IN WEST SUMATRA

Abstract

The length of the West Sumatra Province coastline is 420 km. The coastal area has many

settlements and as a source of natural attraction for tourism industry. However, due to the increase of hydro-
meteorological disaster such as abrasion, there has been considerable damage to approximately 180 km of

coastal length in recent years. This paper aims to identify the relationship between the types of vegetation that
grow along the coast with the abrasion rate and to identify the role of the community for conservation of
vegetation. The aim is achieved through literature review, observation, and interviews with government official
and communities who live on the beach. Data processing is done by analyzing the relationship between
abrasion rate and vegetation type, and by conducting content analysis on interview data. It was found that
certain types of plants have the ability to cope with and reduce abrasion rates. Plant breeding and planting is
recommended to be a part of non-structural mitigation efforts. Community empowerment in planting and
maintaining vegetation provides excellent results for sustainability.