Indonesia plans to restore 700,000 hectares of damaged mangroves for carbon capture and coastal economies

Indonesia's Environment Minister announced a plan to restore roughly 700,000 hectares of damaged mangroves, about a fifth of the nation's total mangrove area. The minister stated mangroves can absorb up to four times more carbon dioxide than typical land plants, making restoration a key part of the country's climate mitigation strategy. Beyond carbon storage, healthy mangroves support local fisheries and green industries like crab harvesting and food production. The government is coordinating with regional administrations, NGOs, and private developers to integrate replanting into a national environmental recovery roadmap. Officials also warned that any mangrove loss from development must be offset by larger replanting efforts elsewhere. The initiative aims to maintain ecosystem integrity while delivering measurable carbon benefits and economic value to coastal communities.