Enviro News Asia, Jakarta — Indonesia’s Ministry of Forestry marked World Wetlands Day (WWD) 2026 by engaging the public during the weekly Car Free Day (CFD) event in Jakarta on Sunday (8 February), aiming to raise awareness of the vital role wetlands play in ecosystem balance, climate change mitigation, and disaster risk reduction.
The event, held amid Jakarta’s bustling Sunday morning activities, featured a community fun walk, environmental education campaigns, free tree seedling distribution, and interactive learning activities. Carrying the theme “Preserve Traditions, Sustain Wetlands,” this year’s commemoration highlighted the importance of local wisdom and active community participation in safeguarding Indonesia’s wetlands.
Vice Minister of Forestry Rohmat Marzuki, representing the Minister of Forestry, emphasized that wetlands function as major carbon sinks, climate regulators, and natural buffers against disasters.
“Wetlands are the kidneys of the Earth. Like kidneys, they work silently—filtering pollution, protecting coastlines, and serving as frontline defenses against climate change by absorbing more carbon than tropical forests,” Rohmat said.
He reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to protecting Indonesia’s extensive wetland ecosystems, including mangrove forests, peatlands, and swamps, as well as the country’s eight internationally recognized Ramsar sites.
“These are strategic national assets that must be protected for climate control and disaster mitigation,” he stressed.
Through the WWD 2026 commemoration, the Ministry of Forestry called on all segments of society to strengthen awareness and take concrete action to protect wetlands as a cornerstone of climate change mitigation, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable environmental management.
“Let us ensure that Indonesia’s wetlands remain a legacy for our children, grandchildren, and the future of the nation,” Rohmat concluded.
According to the latest data, around 80 percent of Indonesia’s 3.4 million hectares of mangroves lie within forest areas. Meanwhile, 74 percent of the country’s 20.7 million hectares of peatland ecosystems are also located within forest zones—underscoring the Ministry of Forestry’s central role in national climate action.
Indonesia ratified the Ramsar Convention through Presidential Decree No. 48 of 1991. As of 2026, the country has designated eight Ramsar Sites covering more than 1.3 million hectares, all located within conservation areas. Indonesia has also gained global recognition for urban wetland governance through the Wetland City Accreditation awarded to Surabaya City and East Tanjung Jabung Regency. (*)
