February 19, 2026 | 05:34 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The environmental program of the United Kingdom to accelerate the transition in the ASEAN region towards a clean and climate-resilient economy, ASEAN-UK Green Transition Fund (GTF), visited the mangrove area in Bengkalis Island, Riau, Indonesia. The visit, lasting for five days, was accompanied by activities titled "Pilot Project Visit Field for ASEAN."
The activities included data collection workshops, gender assessments, land cover validation, global carbon standard training, monitoring planning, and sustainable funding modeling. This activity used a Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) approach. Women, people with disabilities, and minority groups such as the Akit Tribe were involved as speakers.
"The purpose of the activities is to gather information from various best practices of nature-based solutions in the Southeast Asian region," said Yoseph Wihartono, the Communication and Reporting Officer of the Nusantara Nature Conservation Foundation (YKAN), on Thursday, February 19, 2026.
The visit also included a training session titled "Capacity Training Carbon Projects" for village governments and local communities. Topics covered included carbon standardization, benefit-sharing mechanisms, risk assessment, and financial feasibility.
The visit was facilitated by the Southeast Asia Climate and Nature-based Solutions (The SCeNe) Coalition, a coalition of environmental organizations that is the technical implementer and strategic partner of the ASEAN-UK GTF. This includes non-governmental organizations such as The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and the Indonesia Research Institute (WRI).
The coalition supports local organizations in accelerating and enhancing integrated, nature-based solutions. This includes conservation, strengthening community economies, and developing financing mechanisms.
Bengkalis Island, specifically Teluk Pambang Village, was chosen as one of the case study locations in the program because it was considered to have successfully implemented a nature-based solution approach to mangrove ecosystem conservation. With YKAN's help, the rate at which mangroves degraded could be reduced by up to 96 percent, from an average of 27 hectares per year from 2016 to 2021 to an average of one hectare per year from 2022 to 2024.
Rizki Subagia Efendi, the secretary of the Bantan subdistrict in the Bengkalis regency, expressed his pride that the mangrove conservation efforts in his area have received national and international attention. According to him, the success achieved is the result of joint hard work, especially by the Teluk Pambang Forest Management Institution and YKAN. "Bantan Sub-district government will continue to support mangrove management in Teluk Pambang Village," he said.
Senior Coastal Resilience Manager of YKAN, Mariski Nirwan, emphasized that preserving mangroves is about social justice and environmental restoration. "Every voice, including women, people with disabilities, and marginalized groups, must be heard and involved," she said.
Nature-based Solutions (NbS) Financing Research Lead at WRI, Mila Rizqiani, echoed similar sentiments. She said that GEDSI principles should be applied from the planning stage through the supervision stage. "The economic benefits and coastal protection must be felt by all residents, not just dominant groups," she said.
Read: Aurora Forecast: 10 US States Could See Northern Lights Tuesday Night
Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
Batam Fishermen Hit Hard by Illegal Coastal Filling
11 Desember 2025
Batam fishermen complain about illegal mangrove filling and coastal damage, causing a decline in income and severe environmental impact.
Indonesia, UAE Partner to Launch Global Mangrove Research Hub in Bali
26 September 2025
Indonesia and UAE have signed an agreement to establish the International Mangrove Research Center (IMRC) in Bali, supported through a UAE grant.
Indonesia's Marine Affairs Ministry Targets 70 Percent Reduction in Ocean Waste by 2029
7 Agustus 2025
Through this program, the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries aims to reduce ocean waste by up to 40 percent by 2027 and 70 percent by 2029.
Fish Population Declining in Java Due to Ocean Pollution, Says KKP
1 Agustus 2025
The Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries stated that the fish population in Java Island is declining due to the abundance of trash damaging the marine ecosystem.
Serious Threats Facing Mangrove and Coastal Ecosystems on Pari Island, Indonesia
18 Juni 2025
An investigation is being launched into the damage to mangrove & coastal ecosystem in Pari Island, one of the islands in Thousand Islands, Indonesia.
Indonesian Govt Bans Timber Extraction in Mangrove Ecosystems
16 April 2025
The Indonesian Environment and Forestry Ministry no longer issues permits for timber extraction in mangrove ecosystems.
A Valuable Lesson from the Donggala Ponds
13 Maret 2025
The environmentally friendly shrimp aquaculture ponds in Donggala restore mangrove forests.
Impactful Steps for a Sustainable Coastline: Clean Up and Dissemination in Muaragembong, Bekasi
22 November 2024
This initiative has been running since 2022 and aims to enhance local capacity and provide community-based waste management facilities in Muaragembong
Paying Off Our Mangrove
16 Agustus 2024
The working period of the Peatland and Mangrove Rehabilitation Agency should be extended to rehabilitate the severely damaged mangrove forests.
5 Must-see Destinations in Bekasi, Including Beach and City Forest
20 Juli 2024
Despite being known as an industrial and commercial area, Bekasi also has interesting tourist destinations that must be visited.
