MANGROVES
Indonesia’s Super Trees in the Fight Against Climate Change
What are Mangroves?
A mangrove is a small tree that grows in coastal areas. Mangrove forests serve many vital functions in the coastal regions where they are found, including as a protective shield against coastal erosion, a habitat for local flora and fauna, and as a source of income for local economies which rely on mangroves for fisheries and ecotourism.
Additionally, they serve as a major carbon sequester.
Where are they usually found?
Mangroves are found in coastal regions in tropical and subtropical climates. They thrive in saline water and muddy soil, and can withstand high temperatures and tides.
With approximately 2.8 million hectares of mangrove forest (that’s about 42 times the size of Jakarta!), Indonesia has more mangrove forests than any other country on Earth, making up approximately 23% percent of the world’s mangrove forest.
Why are they important?
Mangroves play many critical roles in coastal ecosystems including as:
Nature-based climate solution
A home to many wildlife animals, such as crabs, fish and shrimp.
Support for local economies
A filter for improving coastal water quality.
A guard against coastal erosion.
However, mangrove forests are being destroyed at an alarming rate in Indonesia.
Over the last three decades approximately
40% of Indonesia’s mangrove forests have been destroyed.
This has resulted in an average annual average loss of 190 million metric tonnes of carbon, equivalent to the annual CO2 emissions of the United Arab Emirates.
Mangrove deforestation is primarily due to human activities such as palm production, overpopulation, and pollution.
Mangrove deforestation only accounts for 6% of the total forest lost in Indonesia, however, if this deforestation were stopped, it would reduce Indonesia’s carbon emissions from land-use sectors by 10-30%.
How you can help protect mangrove forests
CarbonEthics has been restoring mangrove forests in coastal areas of Indonesia since 2019. Our community-based conservation efforts are giving farmer communities, like our partners in Dompak, a source of income during challenging times.
In the first half of 2021, we have employed 26 farmers, 30,7% of whom are women, with a total of 82 indirect beneficiaries. You can also take climate action while supporting our social programs. Here's how you can start.
