Press Statement of President of the Republic of Indonesia at Mangrove Planting with Ambassadors of Friendly Countries and Communities, 19 October 2021 in Bebatu Village, Sesayap Hilir Sub-District, Tana Tidung Regency, North Kalimantan Province

Assalaamu ’alaikum warahmatullaahi wabarakaatuh.

This morning, Their Excellencies Ambassadors and World Bank [Country Director], North Kalimantan Governor, the people of Tana Tidung regency, and I planted mangrove in order to restore, rehabilitate mangrove forests that we need to restore, we need to replant. Therefore, first, it will protect [the coast] from ocean waves, saltwater intrusion, and also protect the habitat of the species in mangrove forest and around mangrove forest, including species of birds, fish, crabs, and monkeys, which I suppose there are so many here.

And in North Kalimantan, there are 180,000 hectares of mangrove forest that we will examine more thoroughly and rehabilitate. Our target in the next three years is to restore, rehabilitate as many as 600,000 hectares of the total area of our mangrove forest, which is the largest mangrove forest in the world at 3.6 million hectares.

That concludes my statement.

I thank you.

Wassalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh. (DH/LW)