THE ROLE OF UNIVERSITAS TERBUKA IN THE PRESERVATION OF MANGROVE FOREST IN TEKOLABBUA VILLAGE, PANGKEP REGENCY FOR FISHERIES RESOURCE CONSERVATION TOWARD SOCIETY 5.0

Abstract

Similar to other universities, Universitas Terbuka incorporates community service in the principles of Tri Dharma. In 2012, Universitas Terbuka engaged in a community-service project in Tekolabua Village, Pangkajene Subdistrict, Pangkajene Regency, South Sulawesi with a goal of planting mangroves in the village. Within the next ten years, the mangrove-planting project has had substantial effects on the surrounding environment. This paper seeks to describe these effects. Results point out that the mangrove restoration project has benefited the spawning ground and nursing grounds for particular species of fish, crabs and shrimps. At the same time, mangroves provide highly viable seed sources for the community particularly Tani Sejahtera, a non-governmental organization with which Universitas Terbuka engaged partnership during the project. The results attest to the strategic roles of higher education institutions most notably Universitas Terbuka in mangrove conservation through Tri Dharma enactment to preserve fisheries resources that aim for Society 5.0.