September 4, 2023. In planning and developing ecotourism-based mangrove conservation activities aimed at preserving mangrove forests and their ecosystems, assistance is needed from various stakeholders, including assistance from academics.
The Wana Segara Alaslinggah Fishermen's Group (KNWSA) located in the Mangrove Forest Area, Benoa Village, South Kuta, this time was assisted by the Community Service Team (PKM) of Warmadewa University (Unwar) in resolving various problems faced.
The Unwar PKM TEAM consists of three lecturers, namely; Putu Gede Wahyu Satya Nugraha as chairman, Komang Deddy Endra Prasandya and Cok Istri Ratna Sari Dewi as members. They come from two cross-disciplines, namely Architecture and Accounting.
Head of the Unwar PKM Team, Putu Gede Wahyu Satya Nugraha, said that based on the initial survey, the PKM Team found several problems in the field, including the first, partners do not yet have a plan or master plan for mangrove ecotourism-based conservation facilities that will be built in the long term.
The second is that the community is not yet familiar with the location of the mangrove forest and is not yet aware of the importance of preserving the mangrove forest. The last is related to savings and loan activities where members lack the expertise to keep records of mandatory savings and principal savings belonging to partner members, so mistakes often occur in bookkeeping calculations because they are still done manually.
"Seeing these problems, we offer the first solution, which is to create a master plan for ecotourism-based mangrove conservation facilities, then create a design for public facilities such as toilets, access and other supporting facilities, and finally provide training in bookkeeping regarding mandatory savings and basic savings owned by members," he explained.
In a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) activity with representatives from KNWSA, I Nyoman Kariana Wirawan in his speech expressed his gratitude for the Unwar service team. "Tiang representing the fishermen group expressed his deepest gratitude to the lecturer from Warmadewa for his help in realizing our idea, it is hoped that Niki's plan can run according to our hopes," he said.
KNWSA as a partner carries out several activities that focus on mangrove conservation efforts, environmental cleaning, sustainable fishing and also helps develop marine potential in supporting fisherman tourism. In addition, KNWSA members also have basic savings and mandatory savings that are used to provide financial assistance for member businesses that need loans.
