The Possible Advantages and Difficulties of Mangrove Restoration in Indonesia for Sustainable Development of Climate Change

Indonesia boasts the world's largest expanse of mangroves, accounting for 22% of the global total. However, a significant portion of these valuable ecosystems, approximately 800,000 hectares, has been lost over the past three decades, including in Surabaya. 

To address this critical issue in Surabaya and other regions, various stakeholders, including civil societies, policymakers, and researchers, have advocated for mangrove conservation and rehabilitation. They emphasize the importance of understanding the environmental factors that influence mangrove carbon storage, sequestration rates, and the provision of other ecosystem services.

In response, the government of Indonesia pledged to restore 600,000 hectares of mangrove forests between 2020 and 2024, with a particular emphasis on nine regions, including Surabaya. Notwithstanding the critical role that non-governmental organizations and government partners will play in carrying out these audacious goals, inadequate ecological understanding and problems with governance have hindered the effectiveness of previous restoration initiatives.

In order to optimize the efficacy of mangrove restoration efforts in Indonesia, it is imperative to guarantee the correct operation of lost mangrove areas in addition to their recovery. This entails doing more than just rehabilitation and putting strict monitoring in place to make sure restoration efforts are successful. We can evaluate the return on investment and make wise decisions for future restoration by monitoring changes in the extent, health, and advantages of mangroves for nearby communities.

Achieving numerous worldwide environmental goals depends on mangrove conservation and restoration. A global commitment has been made to enhance mangrove cover by 20% by 2030 in accordance with the UN Decade of Ecosystem Restoration. This is in line with the objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for enhanced ecosystem protection and functionality.

Action must be taken quickly to achieve these lofty goals, particularly for Indonesia given its large ambitions for mangrove rehabilitation. By 2030, stopping the loss of more mangroves may potentially offset 424 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent worldwide. This demonstrates how managing mangroves has major advantages for the climate and can help achieve SDG 13.

However, to guarantee that restored areas perform as well as natural ones, efficient mangrove rehabilitation necessitates meticulous planning and execution. We can optimize the benefits of carbon sequestration and support international efforts to mitigate climate change by achieving the goal of expanding the extent of mangroves.

A multitude of advantages provided by mangroves help to both directly and indirectly accomplish the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Compared to other terrestrial forests, they are very good at storing carbon, which helps to thwart climate change (SDG 13). Furthermore, mangroves sustain coastal people by supplying food and a means of subsistence (SDG 2) and serve as essential habitats for fish and marine life (SDG 14).

Mangroves continue to face threats from deforestation despite recent efforts to curb it, especially in Indonesia. Sea level rise, climate change, and changes in land use all present serious threats to these priceless ecosystems. Restoring degraded regions and preserving existing mangroves can be extremely important in reducing the effects of climate change and safeguarding coastal populations. More than 296 million Indonesians who reside in coastal areas could gain from these initiatives.

In regions where mangroves have historically existed, mangrove restoration operations have a higher chance of success. Both the government and private sector may possess these regions, which may have undergone deforestation or degradation. Mangrove forests have frequently been converted as a result of previous land uses like agriculture, aquaculture, and urban expansion.

The state of land ownership is a major factor in deciding whether mangrove restoration is feasible. Greater prospects for restoration exist on government-managed or leased lands, particularly in the case of unproductive aquaculture ponds within protected or producing forest areas. Alternative land uses on private properties, however, could provide difficulties.

While mangrove restoration projects in the past have shown success rates of up to 85% globally, they have usually only covered smaller areas, ranging from 10 to 400 hectares. The expenses of these projects have varied from $1,500 to $9,000 per acre. Planning is crucial since Indonesia aims to restore 200,000 hectares of mangroves, which is a significant area.

This enormous project is expected to cost between $290 million and $1.74 billion. The government has allocated around $100 million per year in the 2021 budget for mangrove rehabilitation through the BRGM (Badan Restorasi Gambut dan Mangrove); nevertheless, this amount is far less than the expected total cost. Nonetheless, scalable mangrove restoration success in Indonesia might be possible with more foreign funding.

In Indonesia, efforts to restore mangroves have focused on a large number of unproductive aquaculture ponds. However, as shown by the low survival rates of planted seedlings, these attempts frequently encounter difficulties. This emphasizes the necessity of creative methods for mangrove rehabilitation and potent evaluation techniques.