Rohani still remembers how she felt every time the windy season arrived. Large waves crashed against the coast of Antal Hamlet, North Kalimantan, and she knew that if the mangroves continued to be destroyed, the fish would have nowhere to shelter, and her family would have no source of livelihood.

Like many women in other coastal villages, Rohani has always played a vital role in processing the catch and managing her family’s needs. However, women’s contributions to the coastal economy are often invisible in business groups and decision-making at the village level.

This situation was the starting point for the Nature-Based Solutions for Climate-Smart Livelihoods in Mangrove Landscapes (NASCLIM) program implemented by the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) and Wetlands International in East and North Kalimantan, where Rohani lives.

As a pond manager, Rohani has received training on improving household economics from the local government or other parties. However, such training often stops at a certain point and is not sustainable. NASCLIM takes a different approach: building trust, changing mindsets, and accompanying communities so that they can manage their own local potential.

The assistance program focuses not only on economic improvement but also on the protection and sustainable use of mangroves, demonstrating that community enterprises can grow without sacrificing the coastal ecosystems that support their livelihoods. In the assisted villages, this approach has begun to change the way communities view training, not as a one-time event, but as a long-term process.

The Key Role of Village Facilitators

Community interaction with facilitators in NASCLIM-assisted villages.

An important role in this process is played by village facilitators who assist communities in six villages supported by NASCLIM, as well as through program partners, the Lingkar Hutan Lestari Association (PLHL) and the Bumi Foundation. The facilitators not only assist with activities in the villages, but also actively build networks with local governments.

They approach the relevant agencies directly, introduce community groups, and bridge previously unestablished lines of communication. This approach is slowly changing the relationship between the community and the government, from one of aid recipients to one of mutual trust and partnership.

Before entering into further assistance, the facilitators strengthened the community’s understanding through a series of training sessions on topics such as processing aquaculture and fishery products, food hygiene and safety standards, simple financial record-keeping, and packaging and calculating the cost of production (HPP). These trainings became an important foundation that helped the group see that businesses based on aquaculture and fishing products could be managed professionally and have economic value.

Karyoso, one of the village facilitators in Liagu Village, recalls one of his moments of assistance in the field. “The people in [Siandau Hamlet] have creativity and the ability to process their own catches. They are enthusiastic about forming groups not only to gather, but to change and develop. I hope that mangrove management will be increasingly recognized for its benefits and truly empowered for their future,” he said.

The first step taken was the formation of small commodity-based business groups. Each group consists of about five people, with the aim of building strong cooperation and a clear division of roles. In this village, these groups developed from local potential, ranging from fish processing to other food-based businesses.

This small group approach has proven to be effective. The learning process has become more intensive, practices can be implemented immediately, and the benefits of the business are felt more evenly. There is no competition between members, but rather communal work that encourages mutual support.

The implementation of production records, cash management, and the division of roles between chairperson, secretary, and treasurer has now become a new habit. Even some female members who were previously reluctant to participate have begun to take on leadership roles and guide other groups, such as Rohani in Antal Hamlet.

Turning Local Challenges into Economic Opportunities

One concrete example comes from the utilization of ikan bulan-bulan (Megalops cyprinoides, or commonly known as Indo-Pacific tarpons). Previously, this fish was considered a pest and had no commercial value. Through NASCLIM assistance, tarpons are now processed into raw materials for products such as amplang and crackers.

This experience has opened up new perspectives for the community. Environmental challenges that were previously considered problems are now seen as livelihood opportunities, without adding pressure on natural resources.

During one of the field visits, Restu Widastri from the Directorate of Mangrove Rehabilitation, Ministry of Forestry, shared her observations. “In Liagu Village, we can see how the community participates directly in efforts to improve their economy, such as making smoked fish, milkfish without bones, and hydroponic vegetables. This is an effort to improve their economy with the support of the NASCLIM program.”

The assistance model, which emphasizes hands-on practice and gradual evaluation, makes the group more confident in trying innovations.

Production Houses as a Turning Point for Collaboration and Better Business Standards

Community activities at a production house in Siandau Hamlet, Liagu Village, North Kalimantan.

As production increases, NASCLIM has introduced the concept of shared production houses. In Siandau Hamlet, Liagu Village, production houses have begun to be developed as communal workspaces that meet standards of cleanliness, sanitation, and food safety. This approach is the first step toward meeting requirements such as Home Industry Food Production (PIRT) and halal certification.

Sri Wahyuni, Head of the Neighborhood Unit (RT) in Siandau Hamlet, has seen an increase in her household income. During the Regional Farmers and Fishermen Week (KTNA) in North Kalimantan earlier this year, their efforts paid off. “We brought dozens of jars and they all sold out,” she said with a smile.

Access to Markets

The products are being marketed locally through a pre-order system and social media. In addition, NASCLIM is assisting business groups in obtaining business licenses.

In Siandau, for example, four processed products—fish floss, smoked fish sambal, smoked shrimp sambal, and shrimp paste—have obtained Business Identification Numbers (NIB) and PIRT licenses. This legal status not only enhances consumer confidence but also opens up broader marketing opportunities. Eight stores in Tarakan City have even expressed willingness to stock the group’s products through a consignment scheme, marking an important step toward more professional marketing.

Behind the increase in marketing, infrastructure challenges remain a major issue. Limited electricity and clean water prevent some production tools from operating optimally, while weak internet networks hamper digital marketing and permit processing, which is now online-based.

Nevertheless, the uniqueness of this program’s approach through end-to-end assistance, revitalization of existing groups, close collaboration with Regional Apparatus Organizations (OPD) such as the North Kalimantan Provincial Government, the Forestry Service, the Fisheries Service, and others, as well as the utilization of unused government assets, has ensured that the business-strengthening process continues.

The experience in Liagu Village shows that change does not only come from training, but from long-term assistance that builds community trust and capacity. When the community is able to see the economic potential of local resources while understanding the importance of preserving mangroves, livelihoods that are more resilient to climate change begin to take shape. This approach opens up opportunities for other coastal villages to develop similar models.

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About NASCLIM

The Nature-based Solutions for Climate-Smart Livelihoods in Mangrove Landscape (NASCLIM) is a collaborative program between the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) and Wetlands International, designed to support the Indonesian government’s commitment to addressing mangrove deforestation. The program focuses on restoring degraded mangroves and protecting healthy mangroves in the Kayan–Sembakung Delta, North Kalimantan, and the Mahakam Delta, East Kalimantan, through a nature-based approach aimed at improving community livelihoods.

NASCLIM is funded by the Government of Canada and coordinated with the Ministry of Forestry. The program also aims to strengthen policy-making at the national and subnational levels that supports long-term mangrove protection, as well as becoming a replicable model at the national and global levels.