Mangrove Rehabilitation Needs International Support, Says Govt Representative

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry in a public discussion on Wednesday revealed that the meeting between President Joko Widodo, or Jokowi, and U.S. President Joe Biden amidst the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) talked about asking for international support upon rehabilitating  600,000 hectares of mangrove by 2024. 

Hery Daulay, who is the Ministry’s Coordinator of Marine and Coastal Ecosystem Management Restoration Directorate of Coastal and Small Island Utilization, responded to this topic and argued that “the U.S. is a powerful country and Joe Biden also gave a significant response. There are a number of fundings that can be obtained either through grants or loans in order to save the mangrove ecosystem.” 

Moreover, Daulay said Indonesia has set an ambitious goal of planting 150 hectares of mangrove land areas annually. As of 2021, he said the rehabilitation goal is 60 hectares after funds were redirected to handle situations regarding Covid-19.

To support the replanting of mangroves without using the State Budget, he said Indonesia has received donors or funds from international organizations and countries.

Latest data reveals that the vastness of mangrove land nationally reaches 3.36 million hectares but has gradually reduced by 900,000 hectares in the past thirty years. 

Mangrove remains to be a solution in reducing the effects of the climate crisis by storing carbon in their biomass and underlying soil. 

Read: Jokowi Aims to Rehabilitate 600,000 Hectares of Mangrove Forests

FRANCISCA CHRISTY ROSANA