Bengkalis Island Becomes a Learning Hub National and Global Mangrove Conservation

The Global Mangrove Alliance (GMA) Indonesia Chapter held a workshop titled “Knowledge Exchange on Mangrove Protection and Rehabilitation to Support Indonesia’s Country Proposition” from 3–5 February 2026 on Bengkalis Island, Riau Province.

The event brought together representatives from over 20 institutions, including six government agencies (national, provincial, and district levels), nine conservation organizations, five village governments, and international participants from various partner institutions.

Irzal Fakhrozi from the Riau Provincial Environmental and Forestry Agency emphasized the importance of sharing best practices across regions. “We hope that through this event, we can exchange success stories, information, experiences, and knowledge on mangrove protection and rehabilitation. This will enrich the references we can apply in our respective regions,” he said.

Bengkalis Island was chosen as the venue for its exemplary community-based mangrove conservation success. One key achievement comes from Teluk Pambang Village, a YKAN-led mangrove conservation area supported by GMA. The village successfully reduced mangrove degradation by 96 percent, from 27 hectares per year (2016–2021) to just 1 hectare per year (2022–2024).

“Bengkalis Island offers a complete package for mangrove conservation, restoration, and rehabilitation,” said Apri Susanto Astra, Programme Coordinator for Coast and Delta at Wetlands Foundation (YLB). The success in Teluk Pambang demonstrates how community-based, ecological, and institutional approaches can align effectively. Aji Wahyu Anggoro, Blue Carbon Program Manager at Yayasan Konservasi Alam Nusantara (YKAN), added, “Activities in Teluk Pambang show that mangrove conservation works best with a comprehensive approach: full community involvement, capacity building, sustainable management through social forestry schemes, village-level regulations, and consistent implementation.”

The enthusiasm of Bengkalis coastal communities in sharing their experiences received positive notes from Irene Kingma of Wetlands International and the Global Mangrove Alliance. “It is inspiring to see how strong the mangrove conservation community is in Bengkalis. We look forward to collaborating with them to achieve the ‘Mangrove Breakthrough’ for Indonesia,” she said.

The workshop began with strategic discussions on regulations, funding, benefits, and the economic impacts of sustainable mangrove conservation, followed by a field visit to Teluk Pambang Village, where local mangrove groups shared practices with national and international peers. The workshop concluded with a Global Mangrove Watch (GMW) training to demonstrate the link between field actions and GMA’s global targets.

Series: “Mobilizing the Mangrove Breakthrough Indonesia”

Indonesia holds the world’s largest mangrove forest area, accounting for approximately 3.4 million hectares out of the global total of 15 million hectares. With this strategic position, Indonesia is a priority country in the international “Mangrove Breakthrough,” a collaborative initiative launched by GMA alongside UN Climate Change High-Level Champions and various government, private, and donor partners.

The Mangrove Breakthrough aims to conserve 15 million hectares of mangrove forests worldwide by 2030 through accelerated collaboration and large-scale investment for ecosystem preservation.

In Indonesia, GMA member organizations supporting the Mangrove Breakthrough include Wetlands International Indonesia, Yayasan Konservasi Alam Nusantara, and Konservasi Indonesia. In 2025, the GMA Indonesia Chapter released the Country Proposition Indonesia, a concept detailing landscape partnerships, funding mechanisms, policy dialogues, capacity building, and implementation strategies for mangrove protection and management. This initiative also supports national government programs, particularly the national action plan for protecting and managing blue carbon ecosystems.

The Bengkalis workshop was a follow-up step to consolidate the Country Proposition, strengthen multi-stakeholder networks, and accelerate field actions. “Collaboration is crucial to conserve and restore mangroves, and the GMA Indonesia Chapter is a great example of partnership in action,” said Benjamin Christ from Impact by Design and the Global Mangrove Alliance.

About Mangrove Breakthrough

The Mangrove Breakthrough is a global action initiative aiming to mobilize USD 4 billion by 2030 to conserve 15 million hectares of mangroves, along with the communities and biodiversity that depend on them. It empowers cross-sector collaboration by strengthening national policies, building global networks, and promoting transformative approaches.

Launched at COP27, the Mangrove Breakthrough unites governments, NGOs, researchers, and the private sector to collectively advance four key actions, guided by principles developed by the Global Mangrove Alliance (GMA):

1. Reduce human-driven mangrove loss.
2. Secure long-term protection for 80% of remaining mangroves.
3. Restore mangroves to replace half of all lost areas.
4. Promote sustainable financing for mangrove conservation.

About the Global Mangrove Alliance

The GMA is a collaborative effort that brings together technical experts, academics, civil society organizations, local communities, and funders to accelerate a comprehensive, coordinated global approach to large-scale mangrove conservation. GMA has over 80 member organizations worldwide, including in Indonesia.

The GMA Indonesia Chapter, established in November 2022, fosters synergy and alignment among stakeholders to support mangrove protection and restoration efforts in Indonesia. Its current members include Wetlands International Indonesia, Yayasan Konservasi Alam Nusantara (YKAN), and Konservasi Indonesia (KI).