Preserving Mangroves, Preserving Life

To raise awareness about the importance of mangrove conservation, the Jakarta Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) together with Yayasan Konservasi Alam Nusantara (YKAN) and Disney planted 100 mangrove seedlings and held a Conservation Chat (Ngonser) at the Muara Angke Wildlife Reserve (SM) with the theme "Preserving Mangroves, Preserving Life", on Saturday (21/1). This activity is also part of a series of campaigns "Keep Our Oceans Amazing" which aims to increase public awareness and understanding of the importance of preserving marine and coastal ecosystems.

On this occasion, activities were also carried out to clean up invasive plants and mangrove nurseries. Awareness activities are one of the routine ways carried out by the Jakarta BKSDA, YKAN, and with partners to raise awareness and encourage parties to continue working together to restore and improve the environment.

“The awareness aspect is very important in supporting mangrove conservation efforts. With an area of 25.02 hectares, Muara Angke Wildlife Reserve (SM), North Jakarta, is recorded as the smallest wildlife reserve in Indonesia. However, this area is very important in supporting the life of the city of Jakarta. Muara Angke Wildlife Reserve (SM) is also one of the remaining mangrove ecosystems in Jakarta, home to 8 true mangrove species. Muara Angke Wildlife Reserve is also a habitat for various fauna, such as saltwater crocodiles, lizards, long-tailed monkeys, snakes, and is an important area for birds in Java," explained the Head of the Jakarta BKSDA, Abdul Kodir.

Since 2018, the Jakarta BKSDA has been working with YKAN and other stakeholders through the Mangrove Ecosystem Restoration Alliance (MERA) platform to protect and restore the mangrove ecosystem at . Muara Angke Wildlife Reserve (SM). Through this national platform for integrated and collaborative management of coastal areas, various awareness programs that reach all elements of society are carried out together.

"Being an archipelagic country, two-thirds of Indonesia's territory is water and supports life for more than 60 percent of Indonesia's population. YKAN together with partners supports the Government of Indonesia in managing Indonesia's territorial waters in a sustainable manner including mangroves. Marine and coastal conservation efforts require the collaboration of all parties and through various mediums, such as the "Keep Our Oceans Amazing" campaign, explained YKAN Development and Marketing Director Ratih Loekito.

The “Keep Our Oceans Amazing” campaign was launched globally in November 2022 as a form of support from 20th Century Studios and The Walt Disney Company for the release of the film Avatar: The Way of Water, as well as to support efforts to preserve marine and coastal ecosystems.

The existence of healthy mangroves in coastal areas can also increase the resilience of coastal communities to climate change and minimize the impact of natural disasters, such as tsunamis, storms and sea waves. Indonesia's role in efforts to mitigate and adapt to climate change globally is very large, so protecting and restoring mangrove ecosystems is an important step that must be taken together immediately.