COASTAL COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT STRATEGY AND THE ROLE OF LOCAL INFORMAL LEADERS

This article discusses the empowerment of coastal communities and the role of local informal leader in mangrove forest conservation. Mangrove forest has an ecological function of protecting the environment, including: resisting coastal abrasion, tsunamis, and breeding grounds for marine biota. Socio-economically, mangrove forest provides the beauty and comfort of the environment and is as learning facilities, so that they can be packaged as a destination for tourism. The condition of mangrove forest has been damaged but there have not been many results of conservation efforts that have been made. The conservation program is top-down and does not involve local community participation. In order to realize community participation in mangrove forest conservation an active and creative role is needed from informal leaders. This study uses a qualitative approach and is carried out in two districts, namely Jember and Banyuwangi Regencies. The result shows that local informal leaders have a strategic position, unique, respected, able to be role models and drivers of community activities so that coastal communities can jointly carry out mangrove forest conservation activities. Keywords: local informal leaders, community empowerment, participation, conservation, mangrove forests.