Freeport and MoE Accelerate National Mangrove Rehabilitation Program in South Kalimantan
02 June 2025
Banjarmasin, June 2, 2025 - PT Freeport Indonesia (PTFI) together with the Ministry of Environment and Lambung Mangkurat University (ULM) planted 5 hectares of mangroves in Sabuhur Village, Jorong District, Tanah Laut Regency, South Kalimantan as part of PTFI's commitment to plant 10,000 hectares of mangroves by 2041.
"PTFI is implementing a Mangrove Rehabilitation Acceleration program covering 8,000 hectares in Papua and 2,000 hectares in other regions of Indonesia. This is the Company's commitment to the National Mangrove Rehabilitation Acceleration Program in Indonesia to restore the mangrove ecosystems to be beneficial for both the environment and coastal communities," PTFI President Director Tony Wenas said after the mangrove planting.
The mangrove planting was symbolically carried out by the Deputy for Pollution Control and Environmental Damage of the MOE / BPLH Ratio Ridho Sani, PTFI President Director Tony Wenas, along with the ranks of the South Kalimantan Provincial Government, Tanah Laut Regency Government, and PTFI Management on Monday (2/6).
Tony explained that this event is the starting point of a 500-hectare mangrove rehabilitation program in South Kalimantan, with 400 hectares in Tanah Laut Regency and 100 hectares in Kotabaru Regency.
The mangrove planting in Sabuhur Village, Tanah Laut Regency is a follow-up of the Memorandum of Understanding that was signed by the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, the Peat and Mangrove Restoration Agency (BRGM), and PTFI in June 2023. PTFI and ULM have also signed a Memorandum of Understanding related to mangrove restoration, wetland management, and strengthening the Tri Dharma of Higher Education in February 2025.
MoE/BPLH Deputy for Pollution and Environmental Damage Control Rasio Ridho Sani said Indonesia has the largest mangrove forest in the world, 3.4-million hectares. As much as 23 percent of the world's mangrove population is in Indonesia. This means that Indonesia is the largest in the world.
Rasio said the total carbon storage potential of Indonesia's mangroves is globally significant. However, mangrove ecosystems face serious pressures such as land conversion, intensive ponds, plastic pollution, and reclamation and others.
Mangroves are more than just to shade the coastal and beach areas. They support the blue economy, capture carbon, and protect the land from crisis. "We are not just planting trees, but planting hope. Hope for the ocean, for the climate, and for the future of coastal communities," he said.
Rasio said Indonesia's mangrove ecosystem plays an important role as a nature-based solution for climate change mitigation, as a natural coastal protector, ecotourism, breeding and shelter for various marine and riverine biota, and a habitat for biodiversity.
"With the support of the private sector, mangrove rehabilitation becomes a reality. Today I am planting mangroves together with the business world, in this case PT Freeport Indonesia, Lambung Mangkurat University, as well as fishermen and businesspeople in South Kalimantan. Small steps, big impact. Let's support restoration and blue economy," he said.
Tony added that since 2005, PTFI has been planting mangroves in coastal areas of the PTFI Special Mining Business License Area (IUPK) with an area of more than 1,500-hectares. PTFI will continue to work with the government and communities to plant 10,000 mangroves.
"Prior to Tanah Laut, in 2023, a 5-hectares mangrove planting was carried out in IKN and in 2024 as much as 25-hectares in Deli Serdang, North Sumatra," Tony said.
Continuing these efforts, PTFI in collaboration with Gadjah Mada University (UGM) has verified various mangrove planting locations proposed by the Ministry of Environment. PTFI has identified a 834-hectares area for planting to commence in 2025, this area is spread across the provinces of North Sumatra, West Sumatra, Riau, West Nusa Tenggara, East Nusa Tenggara, Bali, and Kalimantan.
On the same day, in conjunction with Environment Day, ULM together with the Ministry of Environment and PTFI organized a National Seminar with the theme "Structuring Indonesia's Mangrove Future: Collaboration of Science, Action, and Policy to End Plastic Pollution" at the ULM Campus Auditorium. A total of 1,000 university students attended this event.
Back To List
