Penerapan inovasi Teknik Mesin dalam konservasi mangrove: pengabdian masyarakat melalui kolaborasi Universitas Perlis Malaysia dan Universitas Al-Azhar Medan

Mangrove ecosystems in Southeast Asia, particularly in Indonesia, are facing significant pressures due to deforestation, land conversion, infrastructure development, and other coastal economic activities. North Sumatra Province is one of the regions experiencing severe mangrove degradation, with high rehabilitation potential in several districts, such as Deli Serdang and Langkat. The objective of this study is to develop and evaluate a mangrove conservation model that employs a hybrid system, integrating innovative mechanical techniques and straightforward monitoring technology with a participatory approach involving the local community. The present study was conducted in Gebang District in May 2025, through a collaborative effort between Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP) and Al-Azhar University Medan. The technologies employed in this study encompass semi-mechanized planting tools, handheld GPS-RTK devices, portable environmental sensors, and an Android-based monitoring application. The study employs a community-based applied research approach, involving 50 participants from coastal communities. This model has been demonstrated to enhance planting productivity to a rate of 200 seedlings per hour, which is four times faster than traditional methods. Furthermore, it has been shown to improve labour cost efficiency by 75%. The innovation of this research lies in the integration of lightweight mechanical technology and a simple monitoring system that can be operated by the community without requiring high digital infrastructure. Pre-post test evaluations showed significant improvements in conservation knowledge (+84.2%), technological skills (+112.1%), and environmental monitoring capabilities (+118.2%), with statistical significance (p < 0.001). Furthermore, the Return on Investment (ROI) of this technological innovation was calculated to be 38.89% in just one growing season, demonstrating economic sustainability.The findings of this study demonstrate that the incorporation of mechanical engineering innovations, in conjunction with community participation, can yield a cost-effective, efficient, participatory, and contextually appropriate mangrove conservation approach for Indonesia's coastal regions. This model is characterised by its high replicability at both regional and national scales, thus establishing itself as a low-tech yet high-impact conservation strategy..