Enviro News Asia, Surabaya – The Ministry of Forestry is currently developing an initiative called the World Mangrove Center.
This global mangrove hub will serve as a central point for international collaboration among countries, institutions, and communities to strengthen concrete actions in sustainable mangrove management.
Dr. Ristianto Pribadi, Director of Mangrove Rehabilitation at the Ministry of Forestry of the Republic of Indonesia, conveyed this during the 2nd anniversary celebration of the Surabaya Mangrove Botanical Garden (Kebun Raya Mangrove/KRM), held at the Surabaya mangrove conservation area on Saturday (July 26, 2025).
Ristianto stated that Indonesia holds the largest mangrove area in the world, accounting for about 23% of the global mangrove coverage.
Acknowledging this advantage, Indonesia is taking a leading role in the World Mangrove Center initiative, which is critical for environmental preservation and global climate control.
The World Mangrove Center is an Indonesian initiative to position the country as a global leader in the protection, conservation, and rehabilitation of mangroves.
“Indonesia is expected to become the global reference for mangroves, showcasing various mangrove ecosystems across the country, each with its unique characteristics,” said Ristianto.
In this context, Ristianto continued, the Ministry of Forestry considers the Surabaya Mangrove Botanical Garden a worthy part of the World Mangrove Center network.
Moreover, the city of Surabaya holds historical significance as the birthplace of the ASEAN Mangrove Network initiative in 2013. “The city of Surabaya, along with the Surabaya Mangrove Botanical Garden, is expected to play a role as part of the World Mangrove Center. The World Mangrove Center is Indonesia, and Indonesia is the World Mangrove Center,” Ristianto affirmed.
Regarding the 2nd anniversary of the Surabaya Mangrove Botanical Garden, Ristianto expressed his deep appreciation for the cross-sector collaboration that has transformed Surabaya’s coastal area into a center for education, conservation, and community empowerment. “Like mangrove seedlings that slowly grow among the mud and tidal waves, this botanical garden has also grown through collaboration and perseverance,” Ristianto remarked during the event, themed “Surabaya Mangrove Botanical Garden Reduces Emissions and Supports Food Security.”
KRM Surabaya now features various leading facilities such as ecotourism trails, an open-air laboratory, a research park, and a seedling nursery area.
Mangroves not only absorb 4–5 times more carbon than terrestrial forests, but also serve as vital habitats for marine food sources and raw materials for natural processed products.
“Two years is just the beginning. But this proves that if we move together, mangroves can not only be saved—they can also become our future,” Ristianto emphasized.
He further stated that the Surabaya Mangrove Botanical Garden has great potential to become a green innovation hub.
He envisions the area becoming a living laboratory for blue carbon research, an open-campus for environmental education across all ages, a center for superior mangrove seed cultivation and food diversification, and a socio-cultural space promoting community-based ecotourism. (*)
