Enviro News Asia, Cilacap — A mangrove area in Cilacap regency is being developed not only to protect coastal ecosystems but also to serve as a hub for environmental education and community empowerment, with its corporate backer receiving recognition at a regional sustainability event this week.
The initiative, Demangkarta – Creativity for Coastal Sustainability, is run by publicly listed cement producer PT Solusi Bangun Indonesia in partnership with local residents. It earned a Platinum Alignment rating with a score of 94.26 in the Earth Restoration & Ecological Resilience category of the Asian Impact Awards & CEPI Recognition 2026.
The award was presented by the La Tofi School of Social Responsibility during The Asian ESG Leadership Summit 2026 in Jakarta on Wednesday (Oct. 21).
Demangkarta is short for Depok Mangrove Karang Talun. The site lies in Depok hamlet, Karangtalun subdistrict, North Cilacap district. Surrounded by Cilacap’s industrial landscape, the mangrove area has been developed as a space for environmental education and community-based tourism.
Through the program, the company’s Cilacap plant has sought to involve residents in safeguarding the coastal ecosystem while raising awareness of environmental sustainability.
Cilacap plant general manager Enjang Kusmana said the recognition would encourage the company to strengthen collaboration with local communities in designing sustainability programs that match the needs of areas around its operations.
He said such efforts must benefit residents while preserving the environment.Enjang was also named among the Exclusive 100 ESG Impact Leaders in the Operational ESG Impact Leader category, receiving a Platinum Leader Performance rating with a score of 93.55.
The program was further designated a CEPI Champion Candidate with a score of 2.81. According to the organizers, the figure reflects the estimated economic value potentially protected, namely Rp 2.81 for every Rp 1 of corporate social responsibility (CSR) investment, in relation to the company’s operational risks.
The organizers stressed that the figure is an assessment result based on the La Tofi ESG Rating and the Corporate Economic Protection Index (CEPI) approach, not economic benefits that have actually been realized.
The recognition highlights the link between environmental protection, stronger community participation and business resilience. However, the program’s real impact on mangrove restoration and residents’ welfare will still need to be judged by results on the ground, including vegetation condition, the sustainability of site management and the economic benefits received by the community.(*)
