Enviro News Asia, East Kalimantan – Indonesia’s Ministry of Forestry has officially launched the National Mangrove Festival (Mangrofest) 2026 in Nusantara, East Kalimantan, reaffirming its commitment to expanding mangrove rehabilitation through multi-stakeholder collaboration to enhance coastal climate resilience and improve community livelihoods.
Organized by the Directorate General of Watershed Management and Forest Rehabilitation (PDASRH), the festival serves as a national platform to strengthen partnerships among government institutions, businesses, academia, local communities, media, and civil society in restoring Indonesia’s mangrove ecosystems.
Muhammad Zainal Arifin, Secretary of the Directorate General of PDASRH, said successful mangrove rehabilitation depends on strong collaboration among all stakeholders.
“By the end of 2025, the Mangroves for Coastal Resilience (M4CR) Program had successfully rehabilitated 15,574 hectares of mangrove forests nationwide. This achievement demonstrates that mangrove restoration delivers optimal results when supported by strong collaboration among all stakeholders,” Zainal said.
He added that the Ministry of Forestry aims to rehabilitate a total of 32,634 hectares of mangroves by 2027 across four priority provinces: Riau, North Sumatra, North Kalimantan, and East Kalimantan.
Beyond ecosystem restoration, the M4CR Program also focuses on strengthening coastal communities through Mangrove Rehabilitation Field Schools, the development of Mangrove Care Independent Villages (DMPM), matching grant schemes for community groups, and the integration of mangrove conservation into schools through the Pancasila Student Profile Strengthening Project (P5) thematic curriculum.
The initiative aligns with Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni’s policy direction, which places forest and land rehabilitation—including mangrove ecosystems—among Indonesia’s top forestry development priorities. The ministry promotes an integrated approach that combines ecological restoration, economic empowerment, and social inclusion to restore coastal ecosystems while improving the welfare of communities that depend on mangrove forests.
Mangrofest 2026 began with an East Kalimantan media gathering, where ministry partners, national media representatives, and community groups visited Sepatin Village in Kutai Kartanegara Regency to observe coastal ecosystem conditions and the progress of mangrove rehabilitation under the M4CR Program.
The field visit showcased the successful restoration of 6,120 hectares of mangroves in the village’s coastal area. The rehabilitation has improved coastal environmental conditions while increasing aquaculture productivity through silvofishery practices, which integrate sustainable fisheries with mangrove conservation.
The festival’s opening ceremony was attended by Nusantara Capital Authority (OIKN) Head Basuki Hadimuljono, who emphasized that mangrove conservation is an essential component of developing Indonesia’s future capital as a forest city.
“Mangrove conservation is an integral part of Nusantara’s development as a forest city that balances infrastructure development with environmental sustainability,” Basuki said.
He noted that collaboration between the Nusantara Capital Authority and the Ministry of Forestry is crucial for protecting coastal ecosystems, strengthening climate resilience, and supporting sustainable economic development for surrounding communities.
Zainal also expressed appreciation to the East Kalimantan Provincial Government, the Nusantara Capital Authority, regional leadership forums, the Regional Mangrove Working Group, and other partners for supporting mangrove rehabilitation efforts. He said future collaboration will also focus on developing the Balikpapan Bay Mangrove Park as a national center for conservation, education, research, and public learning.
Mangrofest 2026 also features environmental education programs and low-emission lifestyle campaigns, including the Mangrove Harmony Ride, participated in by the Elders Elletrico electric motorcycle community and the Indonesian Motor Association (IMI). The event highlights the importance of public participation in building a greener and more sustainable future.
Through Mangrofest 2026, the Ministry of Forestry reaffirmed its commitment to accelerating national mangrove rehabilitation targets, improving the livelihoods of coastal communities through sustainable mangrove management, and strengthening Indonesia’s contribution to global climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts. (*)
