Enhancing coastal community participation in mangrove rehabilitation through structural equation modeling

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Mangroves are unique plants distributed in tropical regions, such as Indonesia. Mangrove areas and various mangrove ecosystems have been lost in the past decades. The purpose of this study is to investigate community participation using structural equations modeling to enhance involvement in mangrove forest rehabilitation. The study was conducted in two sub-districts in East Lampung Regency, Lampung Province. METHODS: The study employed a survey method with quantitative descriptive analysis and Structural Equation Models analysis. The sampling method used was simple random sampling. The community under investigation is a part of the mangrove forest management group in Labuhan Maringgai and Pasir districts, Lampung, Indonesia. The total number of individuals who are members of the mangrove forest management group is 292, distributed with 140 in Margasari and 152 in Pasir Sakti District. The sample size in Margasari District was 81 respondents, and in Pasir Sakti, it was 87 respondents, totaling 168 respondents. The sample size determination was based on the Slovin formula, considering a precision of 5 percent when estimating the proportion of the population. FINDINGS: This study's results show that the level of community participation in mangrove forest rehabilitation still falls within the low category, particularly in planning and evaluation, while implementation is categorized as medium. Community leaders often possess influence and authority that is recognized by community members. When these leaders actively support mangrove conservation, they can influence the opinions and actions of the entire community. In this capacity, they serve as role models, inspiring others to participate in mangrove conservation activities. Community participation includes planning, implementation, evaluation, and utilization of results. Participation influences welfare: the more active the community, the more space there will be to utilize mangrove products and interact with other community members, so that income, needs for food, and adequate housing can be met. Local working groups or initiatives that focus on mangrove conservation coordinate field activities and organize necessary resources and manpower. CONCLUSION: The role of community leaders, farmer groups, government support, and nongovernment organizations plays a key role in increasing community participation in mangrove forest rehabilitation. Additionally, the increase in non-formal education (training and mentoring), type of work, number of family dependents, length of residence, and distance to the mangrove location are crucial factors in enhancing community involvement.