Mangroves and Women? What’s the Story?
Berau Regency is home to one of Indonesia’s largest mangrove ecosystems, covering around 80,000 hectares. These mangroves are a vital asset—ecologically, they act as natural coastal barriers against erosion and tsunamis, provide habitat for marine life, and absorb carbon. Economically, they support fisheries, ecotourism, and the production of processed goods. To ensure the health and productivity of this ecosystem, all stakeholders must actively participate in its protection and sustainable management.
Among the many community groups engaged in mangrove conservation and utilization in Berau, YKAN has discovered that women play a key role in balancing economic needs with environmental stewardship. For this reason, we partner with women’s groups in the regency as conservation allies, enhancing their capacity to develop mangrove-friendly economic activities.
From 9 to 11 February 2026, YKAN and the Berau Regency Government held a training program for women’s groups from six villages: Tabalar Muara, Pegat Batumbuk, Tubaan, Semurut, Buyung-Buyung, and Pilanjau. The event, titled “Mangrove to Market – Holistic Training for Women’s Groups on Institutional Strengthening, Production, and Financial Literacy,” is part of the Solutions for Marine and Coastal Resilience in the Coral Triangle (SOMACORE) program, with full support from Germany’s Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUKN) through the International Climate Initiative (IKI).
YKAN believes that empowering coastal women is essential for building resilient local economies and conserving ecosystems. The Mangrove to Market approach ensures that the use of natural resources aligns with conservation efforts. Kiki Anggraini, YKAN’s Senior Blue Economy Manager, emphasises that women's groups with strong organisational capacity, high-quality production, and sound financial management have more sustainable businesses that directly improve family welfare and the environment.
The training received a positive response. Riska Febriani, from the Kerja Sama Jaya Fish Processing and Marketing Group (Poklahsar) in Pegat Batumbuk, said the program brought new knowledge—from how to utilize mangroves without harm, to developing their business from production all the way to proper financial administration.
We hope this initiative inspires women’s groups across Indonesia. We also welcome broad collaborations and encourage all stakeholders to actively seek effective and adaptive ways to build a sustainable future.
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