Eight State-Owned Enterprises Support Mangrove Conservation in Muara Angke Wildlife Sanctuary

With an area of 25.02 hectares, Muara Angke Wildlife Reserve (SM), North Jakarta, is recorded as the smallest wildlife reserve in Indonesia. However, this area is significant in supporting the life of the city of Jakarta. To increase shared awareness about the importance of preserving mangroves in this area, the Jakarta Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA), together with Yayasan Konservasi Alam Nusantara (YKAN) and BUMN Karya Social and Environmental Responsibility (TJSL), held a mangrove planting event and a Relaxed Conservation Chat (Ngonser) at SM Muara Angke with the theme "Synergy for Sustainable Mangrove," on Thursday (15/12).

The head of the Jakarta BKSDA, Abdul Kodir, as the manager of the SM Muara Angke area, explained that there are five main issues currently being faced. "First is the waste carried away by currents and gets stuck in the mangrove area; second is hydrological disturbances; third is the decline in the quality of biodiversity because many long-tailed monkeys that inhabit this area consume plastic waste, so heavy metals are found in their bodies. And fifth, there is a conflict between animals and humans.

Abdul Kodir added that the Muara Angke SM area is one of the remaining mangrove ecosystems in Jakarta, home to 8 mangrove species. Muara Angke SM is also a habitat for various fauna, such as saltwater crocodiles, lizards, long-tailed monkeys, and snakes. It is an important area for birds in Java.

Since 2018, the Jakarta BKSDA has been working with YKAN and other stakeholders through the Mangrove Ecosystem Restoration Alliance (MERA) platform to protect and restore the mangrove ecosystem at Muara Angke SM. Through this national platform for integrated and collaborative management of coastal areas, various awareness programs that reach all elements of society are carried out together. This time, the Jakarta BKSDA and YKAN are working with eight State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) members of the TJSL BUMN Karya to plant around 100 mangrove seedlings.

The eight BUMNs that are members of the TJSL BUMN Karya, namely PT Hutama Karya (Persero), PT Waskita Karya (Persero) Tbk, PT Wijaya Karya (Persero) Tbk, PT Pembangunan Perumahan (Persero) Tbk, PT Brantas Abipraya (Persero), National Housing Development Corporation, PT Adhi Karya (Persero) Tbk, and PT Nindya Karya (Persero).

Agus Kosasih, Vice President of TJSL Hutama Karya, representing BUMN Karya in the Mangrove Planting Program at SM Muara Angke, expressed his gratitude and appreciation for the effort and hard work that BKSDA Jakarta and YKAN have done through various programs and environmental preservation activities that have been carried out so far. "The BUMN Karya TJSL collaboration program entitled planting mangroves at Muara Angke SM is one of the commitments and a concrete manifestation of BUMN's concern for efforts to protect and restore mangrove ecosystems, as well as protecting the biodiversity that lives in them," he said.

"As one of the BUMNs engaged in infrastructure development and toll road management, Hutama Karya, together with TJSL BUMN Karya, seeks to play an active role in preserving and sustaining nature in Indonesia. Through the HK Cares for the Environment program, Hutama Karya planted mangroves at Muara Angke SM and participated in planting and greening around the rest area and Hutama Karya's operational toll roads. This is a commitment and a concrete manifestation of Hutama Karya's active role in supporting the preservation of nature in Indonesia. Hopefully, this mangrove planting program can benefit nature and various living things around it," said Agus Kosasih, VP of TJSL Hutama Karya.

"The synergy of all parties is needed to preserve natural resources, including mangrove ecosystems. This multi-stakeholder involvement is a major part of any conservation program, considering that each party has its role. Maximum results will be obtained if the government, community, private sector, and NGOs collaborate and partner strategically," explained YKAN Development and Marketing Program Director Ratih Loekito.

The existence of healthy mangroves in coastal areas can also increase the resilience of coastal communities to climate change and minimize the impact of natural disasters, such as tsunamis, storms, and sea waves. Indonesia's role in efforts to mitigate and adapt to climate change globally is enormous, so protecting and restoring mangrove ecosystems is an important step that must be taken together immediately.