RRI.CO.ID, Denpasar - The Ministry of Forestry targets the rehabilitation of more than 17,000 hectares of mangroves in various regions of Indonesia throughout 2026. This program continues the achievement of rehabilitating 91,678 hectares of mangroves by the end of 2025, while also strengthening the government's commitment to maintaining the sustainability of the national coastal ecosystem.

Vice Minister of Forestry, Rohmat Marzuki, stated that Indonesia has around 3.45 million hectares of mangroves, or about 23 percent of the world's total mangroves based on the National Mangrove Map 2025. Of this area, approximately 2.73 million hectares or 80 percent are within forest areas under the responsibility of the Ministry of Forestry.

"This natural resource award also serves as a great mandate for Indonesia to lead the sustainable management of mangroves worldwide. Preserving mangroves means preserving life and securing the future for the next generations," Rohmat said during the Peak Commemoration of World Mangrove Day 2026 at Ngurah Rai Forest Park, Bali, Sunday, July 26, 2026.

According to him, this year's rehabilitation targets will be implemented thru collaboration with various development partners, including Mangroves for Coastal Resilience (M4CR), Forest Program VI, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and Nature-based Solutions for Climate-Smart Livelihoods in Mangrove Landscapes (Nasclim). He emphasized that mangrove rehabilitation not only focuses on environmental recovery but also provides economic benefits for coastal communities.

"This collaborative support has created jobs for 64,386 people, supported the establishment of 63 Village Regulations on the protection and management of mangrove ecosystems, and disbursed community business grants amounting to IDR 16.29 billion. This shows that mangrove rehabilitation can restore ecosystems while directly improving community welfare," he said.

Rohmat added that commitment, collaboration, and innovation from all stakeholders are the three main pillars in maintaining the sustainability of the mangrove ecosystem. These efforts are also in line with the implementation of Government Regulation Number 27 of 2025 and the National Mangrove Ecosystem Protection and Management Plan (RPPEM) 2026–2055.

The commemoration of World Mangrove Day 2026 began with the planting of mangrove seedlings in the Batu Lumbang Mangrove Ecotourism area, Tahura Ngurah Rai, followed by the symbolic handover of seedlings, a teleconference dialog on simultaneous planting in various regions, and a discussion on the arrangement of the Mangrove Landscape Unit (KLM). Thru these activities, the government reaffirms its commitment to continue preserving mangroves as a pillar of ecological safety and the welfare of coastal communities.