Climate love review

Helping mangrove restoration in Indonesia to protect sinking shores

189 w

Wetlands International

Climate love

﻿
In Demak, on the island of Java, Indonesia, Wetlands International pionneers an innovative approach to mangrove restoration, aiming to harness the power of nature to benefit both people and nature. Wetlands International is working along with the Indonesian government, technical experts, partner organizations and local people, supported by Dutch funding. Since 2015, about 120 hectares of mangroves have been restored and more than 300 ha of aquaculture ponds are being managed with sustainable techniques.
Local people are fighting back against the erosion and rising sea levels that have swallowed up vast areas of land along Java’s north coast. Key to their strategy is restoring a protective belt of mangroves.  Past attempts to reinforce the coast have involved concrete sea walls and mangrove replanting schemes. But the heavy walls sank into the soft mud and the water was too deep and turbulent for the mangrove saplings.
This time, with the help the community in Demak has found a more natural solution. Villagers and contractors have erected some 3.4 km of wave-calming structures in the shallows along a 20 km stretch of the coast. Instead of washing away precious soil, the tides deposit part of their sediment load, creating good conditions for mangroves to re-grow.
“To do this, we create traps for sediment from local bamboo and nets,” explained Ahmad Busro, a community leader. “The hope is that when enough sediment accumulates, seeds that naturally drop off the mangrove can settle and grow.”
“When a mangrove forest is rehabilitated and is in good condition, the balance in the ecosystem provides a range of benefits to the community,” said Apri Susanto Astra, programme coordinator at Wetlands International Indonesia. “A good mangrove forest will act as a habitat for marine life, including fish and shrimp.”
Farmers have also agreed to let mangroves grow on part of their land after learning about how the trees not only protect against erosion but also improve conditions in their ponds. Nearly 300 farmers have been schooled in sustainable techniques such as the production and use of organic fertilizer that have boosted their returns – sometimes spectacularly.
Last December, the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration selected this “Building With Nature” programme, among its first 10 UN World Restoration programs. 
https://www.wetlands.org/news/un-recognises-building-with-nature-indonesias-efforts-with-world-restoration-flagship-award/
﻿
﻿
 
﻿
﻿
﻿

Do you agree?

94 more agrees trigger scaled up advertising

Energy Efficiency Action as a MoneyMaker

How industries can cut costs and reduce climate impact

Re-watch our latest broadcasts

Why gender equality is still missing in climate finance

An analysis of the Belém Gender Action Plan

Inside the First Conference on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels

We Don't Have Time Podcast ep. 3

It's time to #MoveTheTravel!

Your choice matters. Learn more now.

Scientists are being silenced. Research labs are under threat. Let's Make Science Great Again.

I defend truth, empower scientists, and counter denial with evidence-based solutions.

Paul Polman Makes Science Great Again

Science needs you

We Don’t Have Time is the world’s largest media platform for climate action – with a mission to democratize knowledge about climate solutions and inspire and mobilize global action toward a prosperous, fossil-free future. The content of the We Don't Have Time social network is user-generated. The We Don’t Have Time organization does not automatically endorse users’ opinions and claims. All users of We Don’t Have Time have subscribed to We Don’t Have Time’s Terms of Use, which, among other things, prohibits hateful, abusive, and violent content. If you discover content that violates our Terms of Use, please notify us immediately. The platform is operated by the company WeDontHaveTime AB (publ), whose majority shareholder is the WeDontHaveTime Foundation. The Foundation’s principal purpose is to contribute to a reduced climate impact and an ecologically sustainable environment. Our headquarters is located in Stockholm, Sweden.

Please read our Privacy Policy and our Cookie Policy.