Enviro News Asia, Denpasar — Indonesia marked World Mangrove Day 2026 by launching a nationwide campaign to plant more than one million mangrove seedlings across 162 locations in 37 provinces, reaffirming the government’s commitment to protecting coastal ecosystems and strengthening climate resilience.
The initiative was organized by the Ministry of Environment/Environmental Control Agency (KLH/BPLH) in collaboration with the Ministry of Forestry, the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, and regional governments. Covering 364.11 hectares and involving more than 25,000 participants, including students, community groups, labor unions, and the general public, the campaign aims to restore mangrove ecosystems while raising public awareness of their environmental importance.
Environment Minister and Head of the Environmental Control Agency Moh Jumhur Hidayat said mangroves play a vital role in protecting coastlines, supporting coastal livelihoods, storing carbon, and conserving biodiversity. He emphasized that safeguarding mangroves is essential to securing the future of coming generations.
According to the ministry, Indonesia possesses more than 3.45 million hectares of mangrove forests based on the 2025 National Mangrove Map, representing around 20–25 percent of the world’s total mangrove area. The government considers this a strategic national asset that must be managed sustainably.
To strengthen mangrove conservation, the government has introduced Government Regulation No. 27 of 2025 on Mangrove Ecosystem Protection and Management and adopted the National Mangrove Ecosystem Protection and Management Plan (RPPEM) 2026–2055. The ministry is also promoting the Mangrove Landscape Unit approach and the Mangrove Care Independent Village (DMPM) program to encourage sustainable livelihoods, including ecotourism and mangrove-based products.
Deputy Forestry Minister Rohmat Marzuki reaffirmed the Ministry of Forestry’s commitment to rehabilitating mangroves within forest areas, covering approximately 2.73 million hectares under its jurisdiction. He said rehabilitation efforts would continue to involve local communities through initiatives such as community mangrove nurseries.
Marine Affairs and Fisheries Minister Sakti Wahyu Trenggono also expressed support for cross-sector collaboration, highlighting the ministry’s commitment to balancing ecological protection with the blue economy, including mangrove restoration along the northern coast of Java.
The government said the World Mangrove Day campaign reflects a unified national effort to restore, protect, and sustainably manage mangrove ecosystems as part of Indonesia’s long-term climate and environmental strategy. (*)
