Enviro News Asia, Siem Reap — As climate change accelerates and coastal ecosystems face mounting pressure, Indonesia is positioning itself at the forefront of global mangrove conservation—championing stronger regional cooperation while laying the groundwork for a new international platform that could reshape how the world protects one of its most valuable ecosystems.
At the 21st ASEAN Working Group on Forest Management (21st AWG-FM) in Siem Reap, Cambodia, Indonesia reaffirmed its commitment to advancing sustainable mangrove management across Southeast Asia while introducing the World Mangrove Center (WMC), an ambitious initiative envisioned as a global hub for collaboration, innovation, and action.
Leading the Indonesian delegation, Dr. Ristianto Pribadi, Director of the Public Relations and International Cooperation Bureau at the Ministry of Forestry, said the initiative reflects Indonesia’s growing role in shaping international environmental cooperation under the leadership of Minister of Forestry Raja Juli Antoni.
“Minister Raja Juli Antoni has consistently encouraged Indonesia to look beyond national achievements,” Dr. Ristianto said. “Our ambition is to become a trusted partner that shares experience, builds meaningful partnerships, and contributes practical solutions to the environmental challenges facing ASEAN and the wider world.”
Indonesia stressed that mangroves are far more than coastal forests. They are among nature’s most effective climate solutions—absorbing vast amounts of carbon, protecting shorelines from storms and erosion, sustaining extraordinary biodiversity, and supporting the livelihoods of millions of people who depend on healthy coastal ecosystems.
Yet these ecosystems continue to face increasing pressures. Across the ASEAN region, mangroves remain threatened by deforestation, land conversion, pollution, and the accelerating impacts of climate change. Recognising that these challenges transcend national borders, Indonesia called for stronger regional cooperation and collective action to ensure the long-term protection and restoration of mangrove ecosystems.
Indonesia also highlighted its longstanding contribution to regional mangrove cooperation. The establishment of the ASEAN Mangrove Network (AMNet) in Surabaya in 2014 marked a pivotal step in bringing ASEAN Member States together to exchange knowledge, strengthen technical cooperation, and promote sustainable mangrove management across the region.
Over the past decade, AMNet has evolved into an important platform for collaboration, delivering significant milestones that include the development of the ASEAN Mangrove Information System, the establishment of silvofishery demonstration models, regional capacity-building programmes, and the formulation of the ASEAN Strategy on Sustainable Mangrove Ecosystem Management 2025–2030, accompanied by practical implementation guidelines.
Looking ahead, Indonesia reaffirmed its support for AMNet Phase II, which aims to deepen scientific collaboration, strengthen institutional capacity, expand community-based mangrove management, and contribute to the implementation of the ASEAN One Billion Trees Growing Initiative (OBTGI).
Building on this strong regional foundation, Indonesia introduced the World Mangrove Center, a flagship initiative of the Ministry of Forestry that seeks to elevate mangrove conservation onto the global stage. Rather than functioning solely as a research institution, the WMC is envisioned as a collaborative platform where governments, scientists, international organisations, financial institutions, the private sector, and local communities can work together to accelerate conservation and restoration efforts worldwide.
The initiative will utilise the Mangrove Information Center (MIC) in Bali as its operational hub while drawing on the strength of the ASEAN Mangrove Network as a foundation for broader international collaboration. By bringing together knowledge, policy, financing, and implementation, Indonesia hopes the centre will help bridge the gap between scientific expertise and tangible conservation outcomes.
“The World Mangrove Center represents Indonesia’s commitment to delivering solutions that extend well beyond our borders,” Dr. Ristianto explained. “We envision a platform that connects science, policy, investment, and local action so that mangrove conservation can move faster, achieve greater impact, and create lasting benefits for people and nature alike.”
To further strengthen international recognition of the initiative, Indonesia announced that it will continue promoting the World Mangrove Center through major global forums, including COP30, the 21st Session of the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF21), and APEC. These engagements are expected to expand partnerships and reinforce global support for a more integrated approach to mangrove governance.
Through its participation in the 21st AWG-FM, Indonesia once again reaffirmed its commitment to advancing ASEAN’s sustainable forestry agenda while sharing its experience and best practices with regional partners. More importantly, the meeting underscored Indonesia’s belief that protecting mangroves is not merely a national responsibility, but a shared global endeavour that calls for collaboration across borders, sectors, and disciplines.
As the world searches for nature-based solutions to the climate crisis, Indonesia’s leadership sends a clear message: safeguarding mangroves is no longer just about conserving forests, it is about investing in climate resilience, protecting coastal communities, and building a more sustainable future through international partnership. (*)
