Siak Plants 7,000 Mangroves to Shield Eroding Coastline

RRI.CO.ID, Siak - Where the shoreline of Apit River Subdistrict in Siak Regency, Riau Province has been slowly surrendering to the sea, a convoy of police officers, village officials, and community members arrived Thursday, June 5, 2025, with 7,000 mangrove seedlings. They came with a shared determination to push back against the coastal erosion.

The Siak Police joined hands with the Penyengat Village Administration to plant the seedlings along Jalan Kok Ahmad near Pelabuhan Pasir in Dusun I, Penyengat Hamlet, Sungai Apit Subdistrict, on June 4, 2026. This particular coastal stretch has become increasingly vulnerable to erosion and ecological degradation.

The planting drive forms part of the Riau Regional Police's Green Policing program and directly supports the Siak Green Regency vision, a development priority of the Siak Regency Administration aimed at preserving green zones and protecting coastal ecosystems. Civil society organization Non-governmental Organization (NGO) Teras Riau, represented by Tomi Tamzil, also joined the effort, broadening what officials described as a whole-of-community environmental commitment.

As reported by infopublik.id, Siak Deputy Regent, Syamsurizal, anchored the day's message in something larger than seedlings and soil.

"Today we are not only planting mangrove seedlings but also planting a commitment to protect the coast that is the source of livelihood for the community. Every seedling planted is a symbol of our concern for the future of the environment and generations to come," he said.

He underlined the ecological importance of mangroves to coastal communities, from holding back erosion and protecting the shoreline to absorbing carbon as part of climate change mitigation. He added that mangroves also provide vital habitat for marine life that sustains local economies.

Looking ahead, Syamsurizal expressed hope that the seedlings taking root along Sungai Apit's shores today would grow into something far more visible and enduring.

"Hopefully in the years ahead, what we see will no longer be small seedlings, but an expanse of mangroves growing strong and green, becoming a natural shield for the Sungai Apit coast and a source of pride for the people of Siak Regency," he said.

The site of Thursday's planting is no accident. Penyengat Hamlet sits within a 14-hectare coastal protected zone considered strategically vital for maintaining the balance of the shoreline ecosystem.

To sustain the program beyond a single planting day, the village has established a mangrove nursery capable of producing up to 30,000 seedlings. This dedicated supply chain for conservation suggests the ambition here extends well past one afternoon on the riverbank.

Through the collaboration between local administration, police, and community, organizers hope environmental conservation can evolve from a periodic event into a shared cultural responsibility. This mindset needs to be rooted deeply enough to outlast any single administration or program cycle. ***