Tarakan, Indonesia, February 6, 2026 –  The Minister of Forestry of Indonesia, Raja Juli Antoni, along with the Governor of North Kalimantan, Dr. H. Zainal A. Paliwang, and representatives from central government agencies, provincial governments, international organizations, and the private sector, gathered at the Tarakan Mangrove and Proboscis Monkey Conservation Area (Kawasan Konservasi Mangrove dan Bekantan/KKMB) to commemorate World Wetlands Day 2026. 

This year’s national commemoration was centered in North Kalimantan, recognizing the province’s important role as the guardian of Indonesia’s vast wetland ecosystem. North Kalimantan is home to 326,396 hectares of mangrove forests and 347,451 hectares of peatlands, vital wetland ecosystems that serve as carbon sinks, habitats for biodiversity, and natural buffers against coastal erosion and extreme weather. The province’s wetlands also play an important role in the livelihoods of local communities and food security, as well as in achieving Indonesia’s national climate commitments and global environmental goals. 

“I hope that these wetlands are not just wet places or land, but contain very high biodiversity, are an excellent source of economy, and are also a source of very high carbon sequestration,” said Minister Antoni. 

The celebration also included the signing of a collaborative commitment for sustainable mangrove management and rehabilitation in North Kalimantan. The parties involved included the Ministry of Forestry, the North Kalimantan Provincial Government, development partners from the Mangroves for Coastal Resilience (M4CR) Program, Forest Program VI, the NASCLIM Project represented by the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), PT Pertamina FP Tarakan Field, and PT Mustika Minanusa Aurora Tbk. 

The M4CR and NASCLIM projects under the Ministry of Forestry are working with local governments and communities to restore degraded mangrove ecosystems through various methods, such as planting and natural regeneration, while supporting the economic resilience of coastal communities living alongside mangroves. All parties agreed that a collaborative framework integrating government policies, community participation, climate financing, and corporate responsibility is needed. 

The Ministry’s Director General of Watershed Management and Forest Rehabilitation, Dyah Murtiningsih, in her remarks, explained about World Wetlands Day, highlighting the global theme of emphasizing the importance of traditional knowledge passed down through generations in preserving wetlands and Indonesia’s leadership in wetland management. 

At the end of the event, participants also explored the conservation area, observed the proboscis monkeys, and learned about local conservation efforts. This visit highlighted the role of KKMB as a living laboratory for education, research, and community involvement related to wetlands.