Indonesia launches Pantura coastal protection program

The Indonesian government has launched a coastal protection program for the northern coast of Java (Pantura) to combat abrasion, rising sea levels, and land subsidence. Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono initiated the program in Timbulsloko, Demak, using a combination of physical infrastructure, such as sea walls, and nature-based solutions.

The Pantura region is economically vital, contributing approximately 28 percent to Indonesia’s national GDP through industrial zones, special economic zones, food centers, and logistics corridors. The protection initiative is designed to span coastal areas from Banten and Jakarta through West Java, Central Java, and East Java.

In Central Java, the program incorporates the use of HexBricks, a modular structure developed by the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), to support mangrove restoration. This technology is being used alongside bamboo structures to stabilize the environment and facilitate mangrove growth, aiming to mitigate tidal flooding and coastal damage across the province's 651-kilometer coastline.