BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The area of Indonesia's mangrove ecosystem is approaching ۳.۵ million hectares. Approximately ۵۲ percent of the area has been damaged and requires rehabilitation. The study objectives were to assess the extent to which a mangrove
rehabilitation activity has succeeded in restoring its ecosystem by reviewing the spontaneous presence of the mangrove ecosystem biota. METHODS: This study was conducted in Segarajaya Village, Tarumajaya District, Bekasi Regency, Indonesia, from April to November ۲۰۲۴. The obtained data were flora diversity data (represented by vascular plants) and fauna diversity data (represented by taxa of birds, reptiles, benthic crustaceans, mollusks, and fish). Data on flora and vegetation were collected from ۵ meters x ۵ meters sampled plots for seedlings and saplings (۲۱ plots) and ۱۰ meters x ۱۰ meters sampled plots for trees with stem diameter ≥ ۱۰ centimeters (۱۷ plots), placed concentrically. These plots were systematically sampled in a straight line from land to sea, with a distance between plots of ۵۰ meters. Data on birds were gathered using the Point Count method, by making sampled plots in the form of a virtual circle with a diameter of ۲۵ meters and a counting time of ۲۰ minutes in each plot. Data analysis includes Importance Value Index for vegetation, Shannon-Wiener Diversity Index, Sørensen Community Similarity Index, Chi-square Test of Independence, Mann-Whitney U Test. FINDINGS: The results reveal that the diversity of mangroves in the
rehabilitation areas is extremely low (consisting of ۱–۳ species; Shannon-Wiener Diversity Index of ۰–۰.۳۶). Until the stand was ten years old, no spontaneous presence of other mangrove flora was detected in these
rehabilitation areas. The formation of new habitats due to this
rehabilitation planting has stimulated the presence of fauna communities, both terrestrial and aquatic. The Sørensen Community Similarity Index for terrestrial fauna in
rehabilitation areas compared with natural areas only ranges between ۳۷ percent and ۵۸ percent, indicating a relatively low level of community similarity. CONCLUSION: A decade of R. stylosa monoculture mangrove forest
rehabilitation has produced structurally mature stands but has failed to restore floral and faunal to levels comparable to natural forests.
