By: Natalia T. Agnika and Ciptanti Putri

The 8.9 magnitude earthquake followed by tsunami waves on December 26, 2004 in Aceh has left a grim memory that is difficult to forget for the people of Serambi Mekah. Not only social infrastructure, but also nature was severely damaged; one of them was the mangrove ecosystem along the coast of Aceh. Now, various other natural disasters, such as abrasion, erosion and sedimentation, are also prone to occur after 10 years of the tsunami. A series of serious treatments need to be carried out immediately, with the implementation of various conservation and environmental preservation programs.

Waiting for the government or other parties to take action does not seem to be a solution. Real action must be taken immediately, even if it is on a small scale. That is what a community that cares about the issue of saving the environment in Aceh, Earth Hour Aceh Community, believes and does. Through simple yet meaningful local activities, this community invites various parties and involves the active participation of the surrounding community in an effort to build awareness of conservation and preservation of the environment. So, since 2012 the Earth Hour Aceh Community has consistently carried out campaigns around the issue of energy saving, mangrove planting, providing environmental education materials to schools, beach clean-up actions, and socializing plastic bag diets.

Last March, in the framework of the Earth Hour global campaign, this community initiated a program entitled #SaveMangrove which was filled with mangrove planting actions in critical areas. The activity was attended by various communities in the city of Banda Aceh. The mangrove seedlings planted reached an area of 2 hectares with a total of 3,500 trees. On November 27, 2014, the Earth Hour Aceh Community even planted mangroves in Gampong Baro, Peukan Bada District, Aceh Besar Regency.

Not stopping at the planting action, Earth Hour Aceh Community also provides education on mangrove maintenance techniques and conducts monthly mangrove land monitoring after the planting action. The education program also extends to environmental issues in general, manifested in roadshows to schools in Banda Aceh City and Aceh Besar. The bond between the Earth Hour Aceh community and other like-minded parties and communities led to a successful "Peugleh Pasie" beach cleanup at Syiah Kuala Beach, Banda Aceh, ahead of Earth Hour 2015.

This community's concern for its coastal area, which is in fact one of the main natural defenses in the area, should be supported and appreciated. It is time for people to realize and move together to protect the environment around them, for the sake of living in harmony with nature. Let's support the Earth Hour Aceh Community in their efforts to improve their coastal areas by donating directly here.