This research was conducted in Ambon Dalam Bay in the coastal area of Ambon City, which includes the villages of Passo, Nania, Negeri Lama and Waiheru. To understand why the communities preserve the mangroves, this study uses a case study, in which data collection was conducted through in -depth interviews and participant observation.Key informants consisted of community leaders who got “Kalpataru awards”, a top environmental prize
(2 persons) and “Kewang”, chief of the local customary laws/attendant environmental
(4 persons).