Estimating the Indirect Use Value of the Mangrove Tree Adoption Program in Pancer Cengkrong, Trenggalek, Indonesia

This study aims to estimate the indirect use value (IUV) of the Mangrove Tree Adoption Program at the Pancer Cengkrong Mangrove Tourism Area, Trenggalek Regency. Employing an environmental economic valuation approach to assess indirect ecosystem contributions, the research reveals that the program successfully enhanced the area's ecological function through the plantation of 18,924 mangrove trees between January 2025 and January 2026. Furthermore, the initiative facilitated robust multi-stakeholder engagement—involving local communities, government bodies, and educational institutions—thereby supporting conservation-based ecotourism. The ecological valuation indicates significant environmental services, with estimated annual benefits of IDR 1,300,752.52 for carbon dioxide sequestration, IDR 764,679,743.62 for oxygen production, and IDR 295,864.44 for aquatic nutrient provision. These findings underscore the mangrove ecosystem's substantial environmental economic contribution beyond maintaining coastal equilibrium. The program’s sustainability is further supported by the independent institutional capacity of area managers in nursery and maintenance operations. Conclusively, the study affirms that the Mangrove Tree Adoption Program at Pancer Cengkrong serves as a potential replicable model for community-based conservation in other coastal regions, contingent upon the integration of effective monitoring systems, data management, and sustainable cross-sectoral collaboration.