Bulungan, Indonesia, August 28, 2025 – A total of 25 members of the Sri Lankan government delegation, consisting of national and provincial officials, visited Liagu Village in Bulungan Regency, North Kalimantan Province. This activity was part of a learning exchange on mangrove rehabilitation organized by the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) and Wetlands International Indonesia through the NASCLIM program, in collaboration with the Ministry of Forestry of Indonesia and the Provincial Government of North Kalimantan.

The field visit examined the success of the 15-hectare mangrove rehabilitation demonstration plot implemented in 2022-2023 by Wetlands International Indonesia on abandoned shrimp ponds using the Ecological Mangrove Rehabilitation (EMR) method. This science-based approach emphasizes a comprehensive understanding of ecosystem conditions and efforts to address factors that hinder natural mangrove regeneration.

Mangrove seeds to be scattered near aquaculture ponds, allowing for natural regeneration

The Sri Lankan delegation welcomed this approach. “It is fascinating to see how mangrove rehabilitation on the coast of North Kalimantan can address climate risks while supporting the local economy, including through mangrove-based products. Community involvement here is impressive, and we hope this visit can serve as a valuable lesson that we can apply to strengthen the implementation of the National and Provincial Adaptation Plans in Sri Lanka,” said Dr. R. D. S. Jayathunga, Additional Secretary (Environment Development) of the Ministry of Environment of Sri Lanka.

The Director of Mangrove Rehabilitation at the Ministry of Forestry, Dr. Ristianto Pribadi, said that the Government of Indonesia continues to promote Indonesia as a global role model in the context of mangrove ecosystems. This is the main reason for the Sri Lankan delegation’s visit to North Kalimantan.

“Through an initiative called the ‘World Mangrove Center’, the Government of Sri Lanka, together with Indonesia and other allied countries, will continue to promote the management and protection of mangrove ecosystems not only in Indonesia but throughout the world,” added Dr. Pribadi.

Mangrove forests can grow and survive naturally as long as the hydrological and topographical systems are maintained. According to Aji Dwisutono, Senior Technical Staff for Rehabilitation at Wetlands International Indonesia, who accompanied the delegation in the field, the visited location was previously a brackish water pond with limited drainage and sediment supply due to the presence of embankments. Through EMR interventions in the form of creating new tidal channels and raising the pond’s surface elevation, tidal flows returned to normal, spreading natural seedlings and allowing new mangrove stands to establish naturally. Once the biophysical factors are restored, nature takes over—and the result is a more diverse, faster-growing, and more resilient natural mangrove forest,” added Dwisutono.

Benjamin Tular, GGGI Sustainable Landscapes Lead, also noted that this exchange is not only about learning rehabilitation techniques but also about building long-term partnerships for climate resilience.

The visit was warmly welcomed by the people of Liagu Village. The delegation also interacted directly with local communities to discuss sustainable livelihoods and the important role of communities in preserving mangrove ecosystems.

Sri Lankan delegates learning about natural mangrove regeneration techniques

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.

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Andita Listyarini
GGGI Senior Communications Officer, Indonesia
andita.listyarini@gggi.org
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Woro Yuniati
Communications Program Coordinator
Wetlands International Indonesia/Yayasan Lahan Basah
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+62 812 2657 8710

Bahasa Indonesia

Delegasi Pemerintah Sri Lanka Belajar dari Keberhasilan Rehabilitasi Mangrove Berbasis Ekologi di Indonesia

Bulungan, Kalimantan Utara, 28 Agustus 2025 – Sebanyak 25 anggota delegasi Pemerintah Sri Lanka, yang terdiri dari pejabat tingkat nasional dan provinsi, mengunjungi Desa Liagu di Kabupaten Bulungan, Provinsi Kalimantan Utara. Kegiatan ini merupakan bagian pertukaran pembelajaran mengenai rehabilitasi mangrove yang  diselenggarakan oleh Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) dan Wetlands International Indonesia melalui program NASCLIM, bekerja sama dengan Kementerian Kehutanan Republik Indonesia dan Pemerintah Provinsi Kalimantan Utara.

Kunjungan lapangan ini mempelajari  keberhasilan pengembangan plot demonstrasi rehabilitasi mangrove seluas 15 hektare yang dilaksanakan pada 2022-2023 oleh Wetlands International Indonesia pada tambak udang terbengkalai dengan menerapkan metode Ecological Mangrove Rehabilitation (EMR). Pendekatan berbasis ilmiah ini menekankan pemahaman menyeluruh  terhadap kondisi ekosistem serta  upaya mengatasi  faktor gangguan yang menghambat regenerasi alami mangrove.

Benih mangrove untuk disebar di sekitar tambak dan membuka jalan untuk regenerasi alami mangrove

Delegasi Sri Lanka menyambut baik pendekatan ini. “Sangat menarik untuk melihat bagaimana rehabilitasi mangrove di pesisir Kalimantan Utara dapat mengatasi risiko iklim sekaligus mendukung ekonomi masyarakat lokal, termasuk melalui produk-produk berbasis mangrove. Keterlibatan masyarakat di sini sangat mengesankan, dan kami harap kunjungan ini dapat menjadi pelajaran berharga yang dapat diterapkan untuk memperkuat implementasi Rencana Adaptasi Nasional dan Provinsi di Sri Lanka,” ungkap Dr. R. D. S. Jayathunga, Wakil  Sekretaris Bidang Lingkungan Pembangunan, Kementerian Lingkungan Hidup Sri Lanka. 

Direktur Rehabilitasi Mangrove Kementerian Kehutanan, Dr. Ristianto Pribadi, S.Hut., M.Tourism, menyampaikan bahwa Pemerintah Indonesia melalui Kementerian Kehutanan terus mengedepankan bagaimana Indonesia menjadi percontohan dunia khususnya dalam konteks ekosistem mangrove. Ini alasan utama Delegasi Sri Lanka mengadakan kunjungan ke Kalimantan Utara.

“Melalui inisiatif yang dinamakan ‘World Mangrove Center’, Pemerintah Sri Lanka akan bersama Indonesia dan negara sahabat lainnya akan terus mempromosikan bagaimana pengelolaan dan perlindungan ekosistem mangrove tidak hanya di Indonesia tapi di seluruh dunia.”

Hutan mangrove memiliki kemampuan untuk tumbuh dan bertahan secara alami selama sistem hidrologi dan topografi tetap terjaga. Menurut Aji Nuralam Dwisutono, Staf Teknis Senior Bidang Rehabilitasi dari Wetlands International Indonesia yang mendampingi delegasi di lapangan, lokasi yang dikunjungi ini sebelumnya merupakan tambak air payau  dengan drainase dan pasokan sedimen yang terbatas akibat  adanya tanggul. 

Melalui intervensi EMR berupa pembuatan saluran pasang surut baru dan peninggian permukaan tambak, aliran pasang surut  kembali mengalir dengan normal, menyebarkan bibit-bibit alami dan memungkinkan terbentuknya tegakan mangrove baru secara alami.

“Setelah faktor biofisik dipulihkan, alam akan mengambil alih—dan hasilnya adalah hutan mangrove alami yang lebih beragam, tumbuh lebih cepat, dan lebih tangguh,” ujar Aji. 

Benjamin Tular, GGGI Sustainable Landscapes Lead, turut menyampaikan bahwa pertukaran ini bukan hanya tentang mempelajari teknik rehabilitasi melainkan juga membangun kemitraan jangka panjang untuk ketahanan iklim.

Kunjungan ini turut mendapat sambutan hangat dari masyarakat Desa Liagu. Delegasi juga berinteraksi langsung dengan masyarakat lokal untuk mendiskusikan mata pencaharian berkelanjutan serta peran penting masyarakat dalam menjaga ekosistem mangrove.

Delegasi Sri Lanka mempelajari teknik regenerasi mangrove secara alami

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 yang bertujuan meningkatkan penghidupan masyarakat.

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.

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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 

+62 812 2657 8710

woro_yuni@wetlands.or.id