Enviro News Asia, Probolinggo — Perhutani’s Probolinggo Forest Management Unit (KPH Probolinggo) has joined efforts to restore coastal ecosystems through the planting of 8,100 mangrove seedlings and the release of wildlife into natural habitats during the 11th East Java Mangrove Festival 2026.
The activities took place on Nov. 3 at Bee Jay Bakau Resort in Probolinggo City as part of the Oxygen Charity Movement, an initiative aimed at promoting environmental conservation and strengthening coastal resilience.
Held under the theme “Sustainable Mangroves, Prosperous Communities,” the festival brought together local authorities, forest managers and other stakeholders to support mangrove protection, prevent environmental degradation and improve the resilience of coastal areas.
Soegiharto Aries Soebagiyo, Deputy Administrator of Perhutani’s Lumajang Forest Management Sub-Unit, said the company fully supported the festival as part of its commitment to environmental conservation and cross-sector collaboration.
“Mangrove conservation is not solely the responsibility of the government or forest managers; it is a shared responsibility. Mangroves play a strategic role in maintaining coastal ecosystem balance, protecting shorelines from erosion, absorbing carbon and providing habitats for various marine species,” Soegiharto said.
He expressed hope that the initiative would encourage greater public awareness and participation in the long-term protection and maintenance of mangrove ecosystems.
Soegiharto added that Perhutani would continue supporting environmental conservation programmes through cooperation with local governments, communities and other stakeholders. Healthy mangrove ecosystems, he said, provide ecological benefits while also supporting the livelihoods and welfare of coastal communities.
East Java Governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa said mangrove planting and conservation were important measures in addressing climate change. She described the Oxygen Charity Movement as a reflection of collective concern for environmental sustainability and the future of coastal communities.
“This is how we strengthen coastal resilience while making a long-term ecological investment. When the mangroves we plant grow and absorb carbon dioxide while producing oxygen, that is when we give back oxygen,” Khofifah said.
The 11th East Java Mangrove Festival also featured free medical services, mangrove education for students, exhibitions on mangrove protection and management, and a batik fashion show featuring natural mangrove-based dyes.
The event also included a solo guitar performance by Kaka of Slank, who used music to deliver a message about environmental conservation.
Attendees included Khofifah, Probolinggo Mayor Aminuddin, Probolinggo Regent Muhammad Haris, Deputy Head of the National Peatland and Mangrove Management Agency (BPGMN) Maj. Gen. Sriyanto Muntasram, and representatives of East Java provincial government agencies. (*)
