Mangrove conservationists can learn from each other through exchange visits, from one location to another, gaining new and comparative understanding. From 3-5 February, Wetlands International Indonesia along with its partners of Global Mangrove Alliance Indonesia organised a knowledge exchange in Bengkalis Island in Sumatra to strengthen local and global collaboration, build capacity, and accelerate the implementation of mangrove conservation and restoration in Indonesia.

Participants included government agencies (national, provincial, and district), non-governmental conservation organizations, village governments, and international participants.

Field visit to Teluk Pambang Village

Bengkalis Island was selected as the workshop location because the island has been very active in mangrove conservation over the past decade, particularly in Teluk Pambang Village. This village has successfully reduced the rate of mangrove degradation by 96%, from 27 hectares per year (2016-2021) to just 1 hectare per year (2022-2024). This success combined various comprehensive approaches, ranging from local community-based management and protection, Ecological Mangrove Restoration, and the institutionalization of mangrove groups. The village mangrove group shared experiences with fellow national and international mangrove conservationists.

Global Mangrove Watch training

Participants also received a training on how to use the Global Mangrove Watch platform, creating new trainers. In addition, participants were trained in using Global Forest Watch and the Forestwatcher app. Read more in this blog how Global Mangrove Alliance Indonesia partners are using the Global Mangrove Watch: How Global Mangrove Watch Empowers Local  Action  in Indonesia.  

Mobilizing the Mangrove Breakthrough in Indonesia

As the country with the largest mangrove forest on Earth, covering 3.4 million out of 15 million hectares, Indonesia is one of the priority countries for Mobilizing the Mangrove Breakthrough, a collaboration between the Global Mangrove Alliance (GMA), UN Climate Change High-Level Champions, governments, the private sector, and donors. This global initiative seeks to accelerate collaboration and prepare the conditions for large-scale investment in mangrove ecosystems with the aim to safeguard 15 million hectares of mangrove forests worldwide by 2030.

In the workshop, Wetlands International Indonesia, the Nusantara Nature Conservation Foundation, and Conservation International Indonesia presented the Country Proposition developed by the GMA to mobilize the Mangrove Breakthrough in Indonesia with all participants. The aim with this proposition is to mobilize a blend of public and private sector funding to drive large-scale action for mangroves in priority countries. It also supports national government programs, particularly the national action plan related to the protection and management of blue carbon ecosystems.