Head of the Bureau of Public Relations and International Cooperation at the Ministry of Forestry Ristianto Pribadi said on Thursday the initiative reflects Indonesia's commitment to strengthening regional and global cooperation on sustainable mangrove management.
"The direction from Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni is very clear: Indonesia should become not only a country that successfully manages its forest resources sustainably, but also a strategic partner that actively shares experience, builds collaboration, and delivers solutions for the region and the world," Ristianto said in a statement.
The Ministry of Forestry designed the World Mangrove Center as an international collaboration hub connecting science, policymaking, financing, and on-the-ground implementation to accelerate mangrove conservation and rehabilitation worldwide.
The initiative will use the Mangrove Information Center (MIC) in Bali as its operational hub while strengthening the ASEAN Mangrove Network (AMNet) as the foundation for regional cooperation.
"We want to build a platform that connects governments, academics, international organizations, financial institutions, the private sector, and communities so that mangrove conservation efforts can be carried out more quickly, systematically, and with tangible results," Ristianto said.
Indonesia also told the forum it would continue seeking broader international recognition for the World Mangrove Center through global platforms, including COP30, the 21st Session of the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF21), and APEC, as part of efforts to strengthen collaborative global mangrove governance.
During the 21st AWG-FM meeting, Indonesia reaffirmed that mangroves are strategic ecosystems that play a vital role in climate change mitigation and adaptation, coastal protection, biodiversity conservation, and improving community livelihoods.
However, Indonesia noted that mangrove ecosystems across ASEAN continue to face challenges from deforestation, land conversion, climate change, and pollution, underscoring the need for stronger regional cooperation.
Indonesia highlighted the establishment of the ASEAN Mangrove Network in Surabaya in 2014 as a milestone in strengthening regional collaboration on sustainable mangrove management and said it has continued to play an active role in advancing the initiative.
The delegation also presented achievements under AMNet Phase I, including the development of the ASEAN Mangrove Information System, silvofishery demonstration models, regional workshops, and the ASEAN Strategy on Sustainable Mangrove Ecosystem Management 2025–2030 and its technical implementation guidelines.
Indonesia reaffirmed its support for AMNet Phase II, which aims to strengthen knowledge sharing, enhance member states' capacities, expand community-based mangrove management, and support the implementation of the ASEAN One Billion Trees Growing Initiative (OBTGI).
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Translator: Arnidhya Nur Zhafira, Martha Herlinawati Simanjunt
Editor: Primayanti
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