The Center for International Forest Research (CIFOR), the Sriwijaya University Center of Excellence for Peatland Conservation and Productivity Improvement (CoE Place UNSRI) and the South Sumatra Watershed Forum (FORDAS Sumsel) is implemented a four-year Participatory Action Research (PAR) called Sungsang Mangrove Restoration and Ecotourism project (SMART project). It aims to develop a locally accepted and sustainable business models, which will eventually allow communities to generate sustainable incomes from mangrove restoration and utilization in Sungsang area, Banyuasin Regency, South Sumatra Province. The main location of this project is in Sungsang IV Village, and the village promotes mangrove ecotourism as part of their coastal tourism. Sungsang IV village received an appreciation visit from the Minister of Tourism and Economy Creative of Indonesia, Sandiaga Uno, on May 13, 2023 after the village selected in the national best 75 tourist village under the Anugrah Desa Wisata Indonesia (Tourist Village Award of Indonesia) Programme.
