Indonesia Expands Global Partnerships to Restore Mangrove Forests

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia is intensifying international cooperation to rehabilitate and sustainably manage its vast mangrove ecosystems, recognizing both their global importance and the challenges of funding and implementation.

The initiative is led by the Ministry of Forestry through its Directorate General of Watershed Management and Forest Rehabilitation.

Director of Mangrove Rehabilitation, Nikolas Nugroho Surjobasuindro, said the government is seeking international collaboration due to limited domestic resources.

“Mangrove management requires significant funding. That is why we are working with institutions and countries to invest and contribute to mangrove management in Indonesia,” he stated during a visit to Tanjung Selor, North Kalimantan, on Thursday, July 2, 2026, as quoted by Antara.

One flagship initiative is the Forest Programme (FP) VI, a long-standing bilateral partnership between Indonesia and Germany. Supported by the KfW Development Bank, FP VI focuses on conservation, restoration, and pilot projects for mangrove management.

“KfW has supported Indonesia since FP I, and now FP VI is underway. FP VII will follow with different areas of focus,” Nikolas noted.

FP VI targets four provinces, including North Kalimantan, as priority sites for mangrove rehabilitation. Nikolas emphasized that the program covers both physical restoration and non-physical activities such as community engagement and governance. “We hope FP VI will strengthen mangrove ecosystem recovery in Indonesia,” he added.

Beyond German support, Indonesia is also receiving assistance from the World Bank’s Mangroves for Coastal Resilience (M4CR) program in North Kalimantan. In addition, funding is being channeled through the FOLU Net Sink initiative, with contributions from Norway.

“This support is positive for local administrations, but the challenge is to synergize these contributions for sustainable mangrove management that benefits surrounding communities,” Nikolas explained.

He stressed the importance of multi-ministry collaboration to ensure long-term impact. “Synergy is crucial because support does not only come from the Ministry of Forestry. We hope this will encourage other ministries to pay greater attention to mangroves,” he said.

Indonesia’s mangroves are globally significant, covering 3.4 million hectares, or 23 percent of the world’s mangrove area. With climate change posing increasing threats, the government views mangrove conservation as both a national priority and an international responsibility.

“We must realize that Indonesia has the largest mangrove area in the world,” Nikolas concluded. ***