Climate Change Disaster Mitigation: Bangka Belitung Provincial Government and YKAN Consult on Mangrove Ecosystem Conservation and Restoration Action Plan

The Government of the Bangka Belitung Islands Province, in collaboration with the Nusantara Nature Conservation Foundation (YKAN), held an event titled “Dissemination of the Mangrove Ecosystem Conservation Action Plan and Alignment of the Ecosystem Restoration Plan in the Bangka Belitung Islands Province”. This initiative serves as a strategic step to strengthen integrated and sustainable coastal management efforts while mitigating the impacts of climate change in the region.

Bangka Belitung is an archipelago province with coastlines dominated by mangrove ecosystems. The province features approximately 66,000 hectares of mangroves—46,600 hectares in Bangka Island and 19,400 hectares in Belitung Island. While most mangroves remain in good condition, increasing pressures from human activities such as mining, plantations, tourism, and land conversion for industry and settlements pose significant threats.

Analysis reveals that between 1990 and 2019, approximately 10,000 hectares of mangroves were degraded, while around 7,000 hectares of new mangrove areas were established. The consequences of mangrove loss are evident in the increased occurrence of coastal erosion and tidal flooding. In 2021, the worst tidal flood in five years caused significant damage, inundating over 2,000 homes and resulting in water levels ranging from 10 to 70 centimeters. This threat is expected to worsen as global sea levels rise, with projections indicating a rise of 4.3 millimeters per year, as reported by the IPCC in 2022.

To address these challenges, YKAN supports the Bangka Belitung Provincial Government and stakeholders in initiating the “Serumpun Babel” program (konSERvasi hUtan Mangrove PUNya BAngka BELitung). A key activity involves drafting the Conservation Action Plan (CAP) and the Ecosystem Restoration Plan (ERP), which will serve as the foundation for sustainable, well-integrated mangrove protection and management aligned with regional policies.

The effort to consolidate these plans with the provincial development agenda has been well-received. “The regional government has completed the RPJMD (Regional Medium-Term Development Plan). Today’s activity aligns with Babel’s RPJMD priorities, which focus on ecosystems, ecology, and the environment. This program may also support the development of tourism villages,” said Joko Triadhi, Head of the Bangka Belitung Regional Development Planning Agency (Bappeda).

Currently, YKAN and the provincial government have finalized the CAP draft and are preparing the mangrove ecosystem restoration plan. Through this consultation, local government, academia, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders are committed to completing these documents and integrating them into regional development planning, making them a guide for mangrove protection and management in the Bangka Belitung Islands.

Aji Wahyu Anggoto, Blue Carbon Program Manager at YKAN, emphasized, “Mangroves play a crucial role in mitigating climate change and natural disasters. Studies show that these ecosystems act as natural green belts, capable of reducing large wave impacts by up to 75% and mitigating flood impacts by 15%–70% (Global Mangrove Alliance, 2022). Moreover, mangroves provide livelihoods for coastal communities. For example, fat mangrove crabs are highly sought-after by seafood restaurants worldwide at premium prices.”

Through this initiative, mangrove management is expected not only to enhance coastal protection against the impacts of climate change but also to support the economic sustainability and livelihoods of Bangka Belitung’s coastal communities.