Tarakan, Indonesia, August 27, 2025 – The North Kalimantan Provincial Government welcomed a high-level delegation from the Sri Lankan Ministry of Environment and Local Government in Tarakan, North Kalimantan, on Wednesday, August 27. The visit is part of a knowledge exchange on mangrove rehabilitation organized by the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) and Wetlands International Indonesia through the Ecosystem-Based Approaches/Nature-Based Solutions for Climate-Smart Livelihoods in Mangrove Landscapes (NASCLIM) program. The program is coordinated jointly with the Ministry of Forestry of the Republic of Indonesia and the North Kalimantan Provincial Government.

North Kalimantan Governor Drs. H. Zainal A. Paliwang received the delegation by presenting the efforts of the Provincial and District Governments in managing and protecting mangrove ecosystems in coastal areas. “We appreciate the Sri Lankan delegation’s interest in visiting our home and using our efforts as a model for protecting and rehabilitating mangroves. We hope this visit will serve as a valuable lesson for the participants, enabling them to return home with knowledge that can be applied in the context of their own mangrove protection efforts,” said Governor Zainal.

In Bulungan District, North Kalimantan, mangrove protection and management efforts have become a priority for the local government, particularly in collaborating with local communities that possess traditional knowledge through the practice of utilizing mangroves for food and daily needs. “Mangrove ecosystems also drive the transition to a green and blue economy, providing climate resilience and social inclusion benefits for coastal communities. Mangroves offer numerous benefits for community livelihoods,” said Bulungan Regent Syarwani.

Dr. R. D. S. Jayathunga, Additional Secretary (Environment Development) of Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Environment, expressed gratitude to the Provincial and District Governments for their hospitality. “We are very pleased to have the opportunity to visit North Kalimantan and learn firsthand about the policies and action plans implemented by the Provincial Government to protect mangroves, as well as through nature-based solutions that have positive long-term impacts for communities,” added Dr.  Jayathunga.

The Government of Indonesia has invited the Government of Sri Lanka to collaborate in establishing the World Mangrove Center. At the meeting in Jakarta yesterday with the Ministry of Forestry, the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Jakarta formally accepted the invitation. GGGI Sri Lanka is committed to supporting this important initiative.

The Sri Lankan delegation will continue their study tour to Liagu Village to learn about efforts to protect and rehabilitate mangrove forests along the village coastline, as well as mangrove ecosystems that intersect with fish and shrimp ponds. The delegates will study the livelihoods of coastal communities living alongside mangroves and gain insights into how natural mangrove rehabilitation can have long-term impacts on community livelihoods. As habitats for fish, crabs, and other marine life, protecting and rehabilitating mangroves in coastal areas also creates sustainable livelihoods.

The delegates will visit the NASCLIM program’s mangrove rehabilitation sites and discuss with stakeholders. Following the visit, the delegates are expected to gain valuable lessons on institutional coordination, mangrove rehabilitation financing models, nature-based solutions, and community engagement that can be applied to strengthen the implementation of National and Provincial Adaptation Plans back in Sri Lanka.

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About NASCLIM

The Ecosystem-Based Approaches/Nature-based Solutions for Climate-smart Livelihoods in Mangrove Landscape (NASCLIM) is a collaborative program between the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) and Wetlands International Indonesia, designed to support the Government of Indonesia’s commitment to addressing mangrove deforestation. The program focuses on restoring degraded mangroves and protecting healthy mangroves in the Kayan–Sembakung Delta, North Kalimantan, and the Mahakam Delta, East Kalimantan, through an ecosystem-based approach.

NASCLIM is funded by the Government of Canada and coordinated with the Indonesian Ministry of Forestry. The program also aims to strengthen policy-making at the national and subnational levels that supports long-term mangrove protection, and to serve as a replicable model at the national and global levels.

About the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI)

The Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) supports its Member States in transitioning their economies toward a green growth model that simultaneously achieves poverty reduction, social inclusion, environmental sustainability, and economic growth. With 52 Member States and over 29 Partner countries and regional integration organizations in the process of accession, GGGI delivers programs and projects in over 51 countries. In Indonesia, GGGI implements the Green Growth Program under the auspices of the Ministry of National Development Planning (Bappenas). The Program aims to contribute to Indonesia’s efforts to fulfill the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC). 

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Visit our page: http://greengrowth.bappenas.go.id/ 

About Wetlands International

Wetlands International is the only global non-profit organization focused on the conservation and restoration of wetlands. Through its network of offices, partners, and experts, the organization works to protect wetlands for their ecological value and the benefits they provide to people. Its activities are funded by the government and private donors, and supported by memberships from governments and NGOs.

In Indonesia, this work is carried out by Wetlands International Indonesia/Yayasan Lahan Basah (YLBA). Under the Global Network Partnership Agreement, YLBA serves as the official representative of Wetlands International in Indonesia, implementing the organization’s principles and guidelines at the national level. Wetlands International has been active in Indonesia since 1983 and was formally registered as a national organization in 2018.

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Visit our page: https://gggi.org

Media Contact

Andita Listyarini

GGGI Senior Communications Officer, Indonesia

andita.listyarini@gggi.org 

+62 813-1725-4384

Woro Yuniati

Communications Program Coordinator

Wetlands International Indonesia/Yayasan Lahan Basah 

woro_yuni@wetlands.or.id 

+62 812 2657 8710

Kalimantan Utara Menerima Kunjungan Delegasi Sri Lanka untuk Mempelajari Upaya Rehabilitasi Ekosistem Mangrove

Tarakan, 27 Agustus 2025 – Pemerintah Provinsi Kalimantan Utara menerima kunjungan kerja delegasi tingkat tinggi dari Perwakilan Kementerian Lingkungan Hidup dan Pemerintah Daerah Sri Lanka di Tarakan, Kalimantan Utara, pada Rabu, 27 Agustus. Kunjungan ini merupakan bagian pertukaran pembelajaran mengenai rehabilitasi mangrove yang diselenggarakan oleh Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) dan Wetlands International Indonesia melalui program Ecosystem-Based Approaches/Nature-Based Solutions for Climate-Smart Livelihoods in Mangrove Landscapes (NASCLIM). Program ini dikoordinasikan bersama Kementerian Kehutanan Republik Indonesia dan Pemerintah Provinsi Kalimantan Utara.

Gubernur Kalimantan Utara Drs. H. Zainal A. Paliwang, S.H., M.Hum., menerima kunjungan dengan memaparkan upaya Pemerintah Provinsi dan Kabupaten dalam mengelola dan melindungi ekosistem mangrove di kawasan pesisir. “Kami menghargai minat Delegasi Sri Lanka untuk berkunjung ke rumah kami dan menjadikan upaya kami sebagai percontohan dalam melindungi dan merehabilitasi mangrove. Semoga kunjungan ini bisa menjadi pelajaran berharga bagi para peserta, sehingga mereka dapat pulang dengan membawa ilmu yang bisa diaplikasikan dalam konteks perlindungan mangrove mereka,” ujar Gubernur Zainal.

Di lingkup Kabupaten Bulungan, Kalimantan Utara, upaya perlindungan dan pengelolaan mangrove telah menjadi prioritas pemerintah setempat, terutama untuk bekerjasama dengan masyarakat lokal yang memiliki pewaris pengetahuan lokal melalui praktik pemanfaatan mangrove untuk pangan dan kebutuhan sehari-hari.  “Ekosistem mangrove juga menjadi penggerak transisi ekonomi hijau dan ekonomi biru yang memberikan manfaat ketahanan iklim dan inklusi sosial bagi masyarakat pesisir. Mangrove memberikan banyak manfaat bagi penghidupan masyarakat,” ujar Bupati Kabupaten Bulungan, Syarwani.

Perwakilan Delegasi Sri Lanka Dr. R. D. S. Jayathunga , Wakil Sekretaris Bidang Lingkungan Pembangunan, Kementerian Lingkungan Hidup Sri Lanka, menyampaikan rasa terima kasih kepada Pemerintah Provinsi dan Kabupaten atas sambutannya. “Kami sangat senang atas kesempatan berkunjung ke Kalimantan Utara dan mempelajari secara langsung kebijakan dan rencana aksi yang dilakukan Pemerintah Provinsi Kalimantan Utara dalam melindungi mangrove, juga melalui solusi berbasis alam yang memiliki dampak positif jangka panjang bagi masyarakat,” tambah Dr. Jayathunga.

Pemerintah Indonesia telah mengundang Pemerintah Sri Lanka untuk berkolaborasi dalam mendirikan Pusat Mangrove Dunia. Pada pertemuan di Jakarta di Selasa, 26 Agustus, dengan Kementerian Kehutanan, Kedutaan Besar Sri Lanka di Jakarta secara resmi menerima undangan tersebut. GGGI Sri Lanka berkomitmen untuk mendukung inisiatif penting ini.

Delegasi Sri Lanka akan melanjutkan study tour nya ke Desa Liagu untuk mempelajari upaya-upaya proteksi dan rehabilitasi hutan mangrove di pesisir desa, dan ekosistem mangrove yang bersinggungan dengan tambak ikan dan udang. Para delegasi akan mempelajari penghidupan masyarakat pesisir yang berdampingan dengan mangrove dan memperoleh wawasan tentang bagaimana rehabilitasi mangrove yang bersifat alami dapat memberikan dampak jangka panjang untuk penghidupan masyarakat. Sebagai habitat ikan, kepiting, dan biota laut lainnya, melindungi dan merehabilitasi mangrove di kawasan pesisir juga menciptakan mata pencaharian yang berkelanjutan.

Delegasi akan mengunjungi lokasi rehabilitasi mangrove program NASCLIM dan berdiskusi dengan para pemangku kepentingan. Seusai kunjungan, delegasi diharapkan memperoleh pelajaran berharga terkait koordinasi kelembagaan, model pembiayaan rehabilitasi mangrove, solusi berbasis alam, dan keterlibatan masyarakat yang dapat diterapkan untuk memperkuat implementasi pelaksanaan Rencana Adaptasi Nasional dan Provinsi di negara mereka.

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Tentang NASCLIM 

The Ecosystem-Based Approaches/Nature-based Solutions for Climate-smart Livelihoods in Mangrove Landscape (NASCLIM) merupakan program kerja sama oleh Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) dan Wetlands International Indonesia, yang dirancang untuk mendukung komitmen Pemerintah Indonesia dalam mengatasi deforestasi mangrove. Program ini berfokus pada pemulihan mangrove yang terdegradasi dan perlindungan  mangrove sehat di Delta Kayan–Sembakung, Kalimantan Utara, serta Delta Mahakam, Kalimantan Timur, melalui pendekatan berbasis ekosistem.

NASCLIM didanai oleh Pemerintah Kanada dan dikoordinasikan dengan Kementerian Kehutanan. Program ini juga bertujuan menguatkan pembuatan kebijakan di level nasional dan subnasional yang mendukung perlindungan mangrove jangka panjang, serta menjadi model yang dapat direplikasi, di tingkat nasional maupun global.

Kontak Media 

Andita Listyarini, Senior Communications Officer 

Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) Indonesia

+62 813 1725 4384 

andita.listyarini@gggi.org 

Woro Yuniati

Communications Program Coordinator

Wetlands International Indonesia/Yayasan Lahan Basah 

woro_yuni@wetlands.or.id 

+62 812 2657 8710