Indonesia Has Lost 40% of Mangrove Cover, KKP Pushes Rehab

The government is linking mangrove rehabilitation with food security, fisheries and the carbon market during World Mangrove Day commemorations in Denpasar, Bali, on Sunday. Marine Affairs and Fisheries Minister Sakti Wahyu Trenggono said Indonesia has lost about 40 percent of its mangrove area over the past three decades, with damage running at about 52,000 hectares a year, while about 19.2 percent of the country’s mangroves are in critical condition. KKP is targeting an expansion of marine conservation areas to 97.5 million hectares by 2045 and is integrating mangrove restoration with the revitalization of ponds on the North Coast of Java. The program is projected to produce 800,000 tons a year, worth Rp20 trillion, and create about 83,000 jobs. At the same event, Environment Minister Moh Jumhur Hidayat said mangrove rehabilitation will also be supported through the international carbon market.