Enviro News Asia, Jakarta — The Kementerian Lingkungan Hidup dan Badan Pengendalian Lingkungan Hidup (KLH/BPLH) held a public consultation on the National Mangrove Ecosystem Protection and Management Plan (RPPEM), marking a significant step toward strengthening Indonesia’s mangrove conservation policy framework.
The cross-sectoral consultation follows the mandate of Government Regulation No. 27 of 2025 and aims to refine strategic policies for integrated mangrove protection and management across the country.
Deputy for Environmental Governance and Sustainable Natural Resources at KLH/BPLH, Sigit Reliantoro, emphasized that the National RPPEM serves not only as a planning document but also as a strategic instrument to ensure ecosystem-based, integrated, and multi-stakeholder mangrove management.
He noted that the framework will guide provincial and district governments in developing their respective RPPEM plans, ensuring alignment between national and regional strategies.
Indonesia hosts the world’s largest mangrove ecosystem, covering approximately 3.45 million hectares—representing around 20–25 percent of global mangrove coverage. These ecosystems play a critical role in protecting more than 17,000 kilometers of coastline from abrasion and tidal flooding, supporting over 200 fish species, storing significant blue carbon reserves, and sustaining the livelihoods of around 50 million coastal residents.
However, mangrove ecosystems have faced increasing pressure over the past decade, with degradation reaching tens of thousands of hectares annually due to land conversion, pollution, and climate change impacts. This trend poses risks to disaster resilience, fisheries productivity, and national climate commitments.
In response, the National RPPEM is designed as a 30-year strategic plan (2026–2055), integrating environmental protection with socio-economic development needs.
According to the drafting team, represented by Lutfi Muta’ali, the RPPEM adopts a Mangrove Landscape Unit (KLM) approach, which prioritizes ecological boundaries—such as downstream river basin areas—over administrative divisions.
Of the approximately 5.2 million hectares of mangrove landscape units, 39 percent is designated for strict conservation without conversion, while the remaining areas are allocated for sustainable utilization, including silvofishery and ecotourism, while maintaining mangrove cover.
Meanwhile, stakeholders highlighted the importance of aligning the RPPEM with sectoral and regional planning documents. Academics stressed the need for stronger data systems and mapping methodologies, while civil society organizations underscored the importance of social equity and local community participation. Development partners also pointed to opportunities for collaboration in financing and implementing mangrove rehabilitation initiatives.
Director of Inland Water Ecosystem Protection and Management at KLH/BPLH, Puji Iswari, stated that the public consultation serves as a platform to gather inputs and ensure the RPPEM becomes a comprehensive, inclusive, and implementable policy document.
The implementation of the RPPEM is expected to support Indonesia’s climate commitments under the Paris Agreement, as well as the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) and the Forestry and Other Land Use (FOLU) Net Sink 2030 strategy. (*)
