Indonesia Highlights Mangrove Role in Climate and Sovereignty

Indonesia's Ministry of Forestry announced that the country's mangrove forests, covering about 3.4 million hectares—roughly 23 % of the global total—are vital for tackling climate change and protecting the nation’s maritime borders. Director Nikolas Nugroho Surjobasuindro said rising sea levels could submerge small islands and shrink land area, threatening Indonesia’s sovereign territory and its Exclusive Economic Zone. He added that the Ministry of Defense views mangroves as a natural shield against wave action and coastal erosion. The ministry also emphasized that Indonesia’s diverse local management practices attract foreign delegations seeking to learn sustainable mangrove rehabilitation.

"Kawasan ekosistem mangrove ini menjadi penting dan jadi atensi Pemerintah Indonesia dan dunia," he said at a kickoff meeting for Forest Programme VI in Tanjung Selor, North Kalimantan.