Efforts to restore mangrove ecosystems require collaboration from all sectors, including the private sector. These actions are urgent to curb carbon emissions and tackle climate change.
Satyawan Pudyatmoko, Director General of Natural Resources and Ecosystem Conservation at the Ministry of Forestry, highlighted that despite ongoing restoration initiatives, mangroves in Indonesia face a risk of degradation of up to 12,000 hectares annually. Without these restoration efforts, the threat could escalate to 26,000 hectares per year.
“The main cause of mangrove degradation is the conversion of land for other uses, such as aquaculture,” Satyawan stated during his keynote speech at the panel discussion titled “Joint Efforts to Preserve Mangrove Ecosystems” at the Indonesia Pavilion during the COP29 UNFCCC Climate Change Conference in Baku, Azerbaijan, on Saturday, November 16, 2024.
Indonesia is home to 3.44 million hectares of mangrove ecosystems, accounting for 23% of the world’s mangrove coverage, with an additional 739,792 hectares of potential mangrove areas. Satyawan emphasized that mangroves play a crucial ecological role, from preventing coastal erosion and seawater intrusion to absorbing and storing large amounts of carbon. They are also vital for socioeconomic activities, serving as a source of livelihood through fisheries and ecotourism.
He underscored Indonesia’s strong commitment to restoring and protecting mangrove ecosystems, as evidenced by the establishment of the Peatland and Mangrove Restoration Agency (BRGM) and the launch of an initiative to rehabilitate 600,000 hectares of mangroves under President Joko Widodo’s administration.
“Mangrove restoration requires support from all stakeholders,” Satyawan asserted.
Wening Wulandari, Head of the Sustainable Forest Management Instrument Standardization Center at the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, stated that the ministry is developing standards to support mangrove restoration and protection. These standards include guidelines for seeds and seedlings, mapping, and the sustainable use of non-timber forest products in mangrove ecosystems.
Jasmine NP Doloksaribu, Head of Landscape Conservation & Environment at APP Group, shared the company’s commitment to mangrove restoration and conservation as part of their Sustainability Roadmap Vision 2030. According to Jasmine, APP Group protects over 500,000 hectares of natural forest within its concessions and supports forest restoration efforts, including mangrove ecosystems, outside its concession areas.
“Since 2010, APP has planted over 550,000 mangrove trees, equivalent to 399 hectares, across various locations in Indonesia,” Jasmine noted.
One of APP Group’s approaches to mangrove restoration is Shrimp Carbon Aquaculture, which integrates mangrove planting with shrimp farming using agro-silvo-fishery techniques in three villages in Ogan Komering Ilir, South Sumatra.
Jasmine added that APP Group has partnered with various organizations to accelerate mangrove restoration and has established the Mangrove Ecosystem Restoration Alliance (MERA).
