Enviro News Asia, Denpasar – The Indonesian Forestry Concession Holders Association (APHI) has called for stronger collaboration among the government, private sector, and local communities to ensure sustainable mangrove management during the 2026 World Mangrove Day commemoration in Bali.
The event, themed “Protecting Mangroves, Securing Future Generations,” was held on Sunday and featured mangrove planting activities at Batu Lumbang Mangrove Ecotourism, followed by the main ceremony at Wantilan Hall in Ngurah Rai Grand Forest Park.
The commemoration was attended by Minister of Environment and Head of the Environmental Control Agency Moh Jumhur Hidayat, Deputy Minister of Forestry Rohmat Marzuki, Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Sakti Wahyu Trenggono, Bali Governor Wayan Koster, APHI Chairman Soewarso, and other stakeholders.
APHI Chairman Soewarso welcomed the government’s efforts to strengthen collaboration in mangrove management, noting that the vast mangrove ecosystems located within forest areas require sound forestry policies to ensure their protection, rehabilitation, and sustainable utilization.
“Mangroves must be recognized as a strategic national asset. They not only store carbon and protect coastlines but also provide livelihoods and economic opportunities for local communities,” Soewarso said.
He stressed that the success of mangrove rehabilitation should not be measured solely by the number of seedlings planted or the size of restored areas, but also by plant survival rates, ecosystem recovery, stronger local institutions, and improved incomes for coastal communities.
According to Soewarso, the forestry sector can contribute through seedling production, planting, maintenance, monitoring, technological innovation, community empowerment, and the development of non-timber mangrove products.
“The private sector should not stop at symbolic tree planting. Long-term maintenance, monitoring, community assistance, and ensuring lasting ecological and economic benefits are equally important,” he said.
The World Mangrove Day celebration also included simultaneous nationwide mangrove planting and discussions on mangrove landscape management. APHI expressed hope that the event would strengthen multi-stakeholder collaboration and encourage measurable, sustainable mangrove restoration programs that deliver tangible environmental and socio-economic benefits for coastal communities. (*)
