Silvofishery mangrove program wins support from East Kalimantan shrimp farmers

The Mangroves for Coastal Resilience (M4CR) initiative in Sepatin, Kutai Kartanegara, East Kalimantan applies a silvofishery model that integrates mangrove planting with shrimp pond farming. Community groups such as KTH Peduli Hutan Mangrove report that the new approach, which limits planting to specific pond margins, has reduced farmers' concerns that mangrove trees will foul their ponds or lower production.

Chair of the group, Suwardi, said interest among pond owners has risen, noting that the Ministry of Forestry assured participants that no farms will be seized. The programme, backed by the World Bank, rehabilitated 31 ha of mangrove in 2025 and 29 ha in 2026, achieving a 79 % seedling survival rate. Other local groups, including KTH Gemilang Sejahtera Abadi, echo the sentiment, citing early improvements in pond yields after mangrove re‑planting. The effort aims to restore coastal ecosystems while sustaining shrimp farming livelihoods.