Indonesia's Ministry of Environment and Freeport Indonesia Launch Mangrove Restoration Project

en.Wedoany.com Reported - Indonesia's Ministry of Environment and PT Freeport Indonesia Launch Large-Scale Coastal Mangrove Restoration Project

The Ministry of Environment/Environmental Control Agency (KLH/BPLH) of Indonesia, in collaboration with PT Freeport Indonesia, has initiated a large-scale mangrove ecosystem restoration project in Labuhan Alas Village, Sumbawa Regency, West Nusa Tenggara Province. This project is a concrete action under the national "Ecological Repentance" movement, aimed at protecting coastal areas from the impacts of the climate crisis, restoring natural carrying capacity, and creating green economic opportunities for local communities.

Minister of Environment/Head of the Environmental Control Agency, Moh. Jumhur Hidayat, emphasized that this project is by no means a mere tree-planting ceremony. He stated that, consistent with the essence of "repentance," this movement is a moment for all components of the nation to honestly acknowledge past mistakes in exploiting nature, sincerely make amends, and firmly commit to not repeating them. He called for the development of mangrove planting into a nationwide movement, with shared responsibility among the government, business sector, and civil society organizations to restore coastal ecosystems.

Through the strategic vision of the "Ecological Repentance" movement for the 2026-2028 period, all national elements are called upon to make environmental carrying capacity the foundation of every national development policy. KLH/BPLH emphasized that accelerating national economic growth can no longer come at the expense of natural sustainability but must proceed in harmony with environmental protection, ensuring that the benefits of economic development are felt inclusively and sustainably by all. Mangroves serve as green infrastructure and reliable natural protective barriers against erosion, large waves, and seawater intrusion, while providing productive habitats for high-value marine life, directly supporting the daily livelihoods of traditional fishermen and local communities. Furthermore, mangroves are globally recognized as efficient blue carbon sinks, making their restoration a key pillar of Indonesia's national strategy to combat climate change, and opening green economic opportunities through sustainable fisheries, ecotourism, and micro-enterprises based on coastal environmental services.

Under the framework of the 2023 strategic agreement between the government and PT Freeport Indonesia (PTFI), as of mid-2026, the collaborative project in West Nusa Tenggara has restored 484 hectares of coastal areas, including 445 hectares in Sumbawa and 39 hectares in East Lombok. Through a labor-intensive program, the project has empowered 1,500 local residents from the nursery to the maintenance phase, planting 1.5 million mangrove seedlings (Rhizophora sp.).

President Director of PT Freeport Indonesia, Tony Wenas, stated that the company is committed to supporting environmental protection, increasing carbon absorption, and enhancing the resilience of coastal communities through mangrove planting. He noted that the project supports the national target of restoring 2,000 hectares of mangroves outside Papua, with 666 hectares already planted outside Papua and 2 million seedlings planted. In Mimika Regency, Papua, the company has planted approximately 5.5 million mangrove seedlings, covering over 2,184 hectares.

The mangrove planting in Labuhan Alas Village is expected to become a model for nationwide multi-stakeholder collaboration, reinforcing the message that protecting the environment is not only about restoring nature but also about providing tangible protection for coastal areas, alleviating poverty through improved welfare, and leaving a sustainable ecosystem for the nation's future.