Exploring the Experience and Meaning of Mangrove Restoration among Coastal Community Members

Abstract

Coastal ecosystem restoration in Southeast Asia has emerged as a key strategy in environmental sustainability, particularly in regions affected by mangrove degradation and climate change. While restoration efforts have largely focused on ecological outcomes, limited attention has been given to how local communities experience and assign meaning to their participation in these initiatives. This study addresses the lack of understanding regarding the lived experiences of coastal community members engaged in mangrove restoration by asking: How do individuals interpret the ecological, cultural, and spiritual dimensions of their involvement in a specific Indonesian coastal village? Grounded in the philosophical underpinnings of descriptive phenomenology, this study justifies its approach through the framework's emphasis on capturing first-person perspectives and uncovering the essence of lived experiences.  Data were collected through in-depth interviews with twelve participants involved in a local mangrove rehabilitation program and actively analyzed using thematic techniques to distill recurring patterns of meaning.  The analysis revealed four core themes: restoration as personal healing, identity reclamation, intergenerational knowledge transmission, and spiritual connection with nature. These findings suggest that mangrove restoration is experienced not merely as a technical intervention but as a transformative process rooted in memory, place, and belief. By uncovering these lived meanings, the study broadens our understanding of sustainability as a human-centered practice. The results underscore the importance of incorporating subjective experiences into ecological policy and invite further research into culturally grounded approaches to environmental engagement.