President Jokowi Plants Mangroves with Local Community in Bengkalis, Riau Province

President Jokowi plants mangrove trees with local community at Raja Kecik Tourism Beach, Bengkalis, Riau, Tuesday (28/9). (Photo by: BPMI Presidential Secretariat/Laily Rachev)

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo on Tuesday (28/09) planted mangrove trees with local community at Raja Kecik Tourism Beach, Bengkalis, Riau province.

“I just planted mangroves together with Minister of the Environment and Forestry, Head of the Peatland and Mangrove Restoration Agency (BRGM), the Regent, and the community in Bengkalis regency,” the President said in a press statement after the planting activity.

On that occasion, the President expressed hope that mangrove rehabilitation will be able to improve abrasion control, support ecotourism, and bolster the economic growth of the surrounding communities.

“We hope we can improve this area soon. We will rehabilitate the area to protect the coast from abrasion, to support ecotourism and tourism in the region. And, it is also expected to support the economy of the people around this area,” he said.

The Head of State also highlighted that as a manifestation of commitment to the Paris Agreement on climate change, the Government will carry out mangrove rehabilitation this year covering an area of 34 thousand hectares throughout the country to anticipate global climate change.

“The mangrove rehabilitation will not be only in Bengkalis regency but also across the country. We really need mangrove forests since they can store fourfold to fivefold more carbon than mainland tropical forests so that it will contribute greatly to the absorption of carbon emissions,” the President remarked. (MAY/UN) (RIF/MUR)