Indonesia proposes World Mangrove Center to boost ASEAN conservation efforts

Indonesia is advocating for enhanced regional cooperation in sustainable mangrove management by proposing the creation of a World Mangrove Center. This initiative was put forward during the 21st ASEAN Working Group on Forest Management (AWG-FM) meeting held in Siem Reap, Cambodia, aiming to bolster both regional and global mangrove conservation and rehabilitation efforts.

Ristianto Pribadi, Head of the Public Relations and Foreign Cooperation Bureau at the Ministry of Forestry, stated that under the guidance of Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni, Indonesia is intensifying its forestry diplomacy. This approach seeks to offer solutions to environmental challenges while fostering closer collaboration among ASEAN nations. "Minister Raja Juli Antoni's direction is very clear: to make Indonesia not only a country that successfully manages its forest resources sustainably but also a strategic partner that actively shares experiences, builds collaboration, and provides solutions for the region and the world," Pribadi said.

During the forum, Indonesia underscored the critical role of mangroves as strategic ecosystems. They are vital for climate change mitigation and adaptation, coastal protection, biodiversity conservation, and improving community welfare. Indonesia also pointed out the ongoing challenges facing ASEAN's mangrove ecosystems, including deforestation, land conversion, the impacts of climate change, and pollution, emphasizing the need for strengthened regional cooperation for sustainable management.

Indonesia also referenced its role in establishing the ASEAN Mangrove Network (AMNet) in Surabaya in 2014, a platform for synergistic mangrove management in the region. The country presented AMNet Phase I achievements, such as developing an ASEAN mangrove information system, silvofishery models, and regional workshops, alongside the ASEAN Strategy on Sustainable Mangrove Ecosystem Management 2025–2030. Indonesia supports AMNet Phase II, which focuses on knowledge exchange, capacity building, community-based management, and the ASEAN One Billion Trees Growing Initiative.

The proposed World Mangrove Center is envisioned as an international collaboration hub connecting research, policy, financing, and implementation of mangrove conservation to accelerate global ecosystem rehabilitation. This center aims to consolidate efforts and resources to address the pressing need for mangrove protection and restoration worldwide.

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Minister Raja Juli Antoni's direction is very clear: to make Indonesia not only a country that successfully manages its forest resources sustainably but also a strategic partner that actively shares experiences, builds collaboration, and provides solutions for the region and the world.