Strengthening the Global Network of the World Mangrove Center (WMC). Mangroves without borders: Powering a global network for climate, communities, and the future (UNFF21 Side Event)

Along the vast shores of Indonesia, where the ocean breathes against the land and time moves with the rhythm of the tides.
There is a living barrier, quiet, resilient, yet essential to life itself.
These are mangroves.
Stretching across thousands of kilometers, Indonesia is home to one of the largest mangrove ecosystems on Earth a place where land, sea, and life intertwine.
Beneath their tangled roots, young fish find shelter.
Coastal waters are nourished and entire ecosystems begin to thrive.
For generations, these forests have protected coastal communities, shielding homes from waves, storms, and the slow, relentless force of erosion.
They are not just trees, they are lifelines.
But over the past decade, something has changed.
But even the strongest roots can struggle under constant pressure.
Across Indonesia's coastlines, mangroves are facing growing challenges from erosion to human activity to the changing rhythm of the climate.
And with them, we are losing more than just trees.
As mangroves vanish, coastlines begin to crumble.
Waves reach further inland, storms grow more destructive, and communities once protected now stand exposed.
The tides are no longer predictable.
They are rising, stronger and harder to resist.
But this is not the end of the story.
Across Indonesia, communities, organizations, and people are coming together.
Rehabilitation, rebuilding, planting one seedling at a time.
Hands that once watched the damage are now shaping recovery.
From coast to coast, a movement is growing, rooted in resilience and driven by hope.
And slowly, the change begins to take shape.
Mangroves return, their roots holding the soil once more, their presence calming the waters.
Life follows.
Fish populations recover.
Yes.
Hello, very good afternoon, everyone.
I would like to welcome all distinguished participants, speakers, also excellences to this side event on World Mangrove Center.
We acknowledge the active participation from governments, international organizations, researchers, and NGO, and also communities.
It's important to emphasize and understand that mangroves are a global asset.
They are not only a natural resource, but it's important asset globally.
The total mangrove forest area in the world is around 16.53 million hectas of which Indonesia has around 3.44 million hectres that accounts to 23% of the world's mangrove forests.
Ladies and gentlemen, mangroves mangroves matter in our fight against the climate crisis, mangroves are critical for climate mitigation, also for blue carbon, for coastal protection, biodiversity, food security, also to support the livelihoods of coastal communities.
Mangroves provide solutions for both people and the planet.
It's important to note that healthy mangroves ecosystem strengthens our resilience against climate change, climate crisis, and also disasters.
Yet, ladies and gentlemen, mangroves continue to face degradation, land conversion, pollution, unsustainable coastal development, and climate change impacts.
Therefore, the challenges that mangrove ecosystems are faced at a global level are naturally cross border and interconnected.
It's important to note that with all this backdrop, that no country can solve these challenges and issues alone.
We need to underline the importance of global collaboration and partnership.
Stronger international collaboration is urgently needed.
It is called for everyone.
We need to connect science, policy, financing, local knowledge, and also community action to restore mangroves globally.
Knowledge sharing and partnerships are key to scale up successful mangrove restoration and protection practices.
Ladies and gentlemen, Indonesia initiated the World Mangrove Center, WMC as a knowledge hub, as a local action to local and global learning for mangrove conservation.
I would like to share briefly the milestones of WMC.
In 2022, the World Mangrove Center was launched by the president of the Republic of Indonesia, His Excellency Joko Widodo in G 20 in Bali.
In 2024, we officially established the WMC under the decree of the Minister of Environment and Forestry.
Also, we had global promotion at UNA six ASO 27 bilateral meetings with Asea countries.
Welcome to Minister of the Republic of Como, your Esidency.
Thank you.
Thank you.
I shall continue.
In 2025, we had a global promotion at AWGFM 20 in 2026, diplomatic promotion at a global level at the 21st UNF in New York.
We have also built possible collaboration with ICA through Mangrove International Center in Bali and support from member states participating in AMNT.
Ladies and gentlemen, Waltmarroof Center aims to become first a global knowledge hub, second, Center for innovation, and third as a platform for cooperation and capacity building for Maroof protection and conservation and restoration.
Waltmarroof Center is expected to bridge not only countries, but also institutions, experts, and also the local communities.
It should be a global hub.
The latest update is our Vice Minister of forestry, Sirt Marzui during the Cop 30 in Blaine in Brazil, invited countries around the world to collaborate through the Waltmrove Center, during the dialog session entitled Walt Mangrove Center Scation Global Efforts on Mangrove Rehabilitation and Conservation.
Ladies and gentlemen, to open this very fruitful discussion, I would like first to invite an opening remark by His Excellency Bumar Hadi, the permanent representative of the Republic of Indonesia to the United Nations in New York.
Thank you moderator.
His Excellency, Minister Raja Julie António PhD.
Her Excellcy, Minister Rosali Matundo.
Excellency's, distinguished panelists.
Ladies and gentlemen, It gives me great pleasure to welcome each and every one of you to this event.
I am particularly very happy that Minister Raja Giulianoni is here with us.
He and I, we share similar background.
We both started as student activists in the same organizations, civil society organizations, but he ends up as a professional politician.
I ended up as a professional diplomat.
But I'm very happy that he is now taking care of our forest because I'm sure he retains the activist DNA in him.
We expect good things coming out from his activism.
We are gathered here in the concrete jungle of New York.
But we do hope that our discussion this afternoon will bring more shades of green and blue.
Into our conversations and collective actions.
Indonesia is honored to host this side event on mangroves Without Borders, which aims to strengthen the global network of the World Mangrove Center.
Today's discussion also reflects the growing global commitment to mangrove conservation and restoration and recognition of the vital role that mangroves play in addressing sustainable development challenges.
Indonesia believes that genuine partnership, particularly through South South and triangular cooperation are needed now more than ever in addressing today's interconnected global challenges.
This is precisely what the Word mangrove Center seeks to achieve to strengthen global partnership, to promote collaboration across regions, and to facilitate the sharing of best practices, innovation, and experience in sustainable mangrove management.
Therefore, allow me to express my sincere appreciation to our co hosts, the World Bank, Global Green Growth Institute, and Japan International Cooperation Agency, as well as our distinguished panelists, speakers for making this event possible and meaningful.
Once again, thank you very much and have a productive discussion.
Thank you, Excellency Omar.
For the next intervention, I would like to invite Minister of Forestry of the Republic of Indonesia, Excellency Raja Julie Aton, to deliver his keynote remarks.
Hello.
Okay.
All right.
Technical errors.
Good afternoon, everyone.
Your Excellency, Minister Rosalie Matando, Minister of the Forest Economy of the Republic of Congo.
Excellency Ambassador Omar permanent representative of Republic Indonesia to United Nations.
Ambassadors, distinguished speakers, ladies and gentlemen.
It is a good honor for Indonesia to convene this important discussion on strengthening global cooperation for mangrove conservation and rehabilitation.
I extend my sincere appreciation to UN FF Secretariat, for providing this opportunity through the site event, strengthening the global network of World Mangrove Center, mangroves without borders.
Excellencies, Indonesia is home to approximately 3.4 million hectares of mangroves, representing around 23% of the world mangrove ecosystems.
This places Indonesia not only as one of the countries with the largest mangrove areas, but also a nation with a strong responsibility to help lead global mangrove conservation efforts.
Mangroves are among the world's most vulnerable natural ecosystems.
They protect coastlines, absorb and store vast amount of carbon, support biodiversity, strengthen food security, and sustain millions of livelihoods.
At a time when the world faces climate change, biodiversity loss, and increasing coastal vulnerability, man groups provide concrete natural based solutions for both people and the planet.
Recognizing this importance, Indsia has made mangrove rehabilitation and protection a national priority, including under Indonesia's Folu Nets 2030 agenda, and our national determines contribution under the Paris Agreement.
Excellence is distinguished delegates.
Indonesia believe that with 20% of world's mangrove, we have both the responsibility and credibility to contribute more actively in shaping global mangrove action.
This is the spirit behind Indonesia's initiative to establish W Mangrove Center or WMC.
The WMC is envisioned as a collaborative global platform that connects governments, scientists, local communities, international organizations, civil society, and the private sector.
Its objectives are clear to strengthen global cooperation, to bridge sign policy and action, to promote innovation and best practices, and to accelerate concrete action for mangrove conservation and rehabilitation worldwide.
WMC aims to become a global hub for mangrove knowledge and information, a center for capacity building and learning, and a platform that mobilize partnerships, technology, and sustainable financing.
Importantly, the WMC will complement and strengthen existing initiatives.
We seek not to replace current efforts, but to connect and amplify them through stronger global collaboration.
Excellency, no country can protect man groups alone.
The challenges we face, degradation, pollution, land conversion, and climate change require collective action and shared responsibility.
Through the Mangrove Center, WMC Intia invites all countries and partners to join a growing global network for mangrove EM.
We welcome partnerships in research, capacity building, policy development, technology exchange, carbon Initiative, community empowerment, and sustainable financing.
Indonesia stands ready to work openly and collaboratively with all partners to ensure that WMC become not only a center for excellence, but also a catalyst for real action on the ground.
Protecting mangrove today means protecting our shared future.
Let us work together to strengthen global solidarity, enhance climate resilience, and safeguard coastal ecosystem for future generations.
Indonesia invites all of you to join us building the World Mangrove Center as to Global Alliance for Mangrove.
Thank you.
Thank you, Excellency Minister Raja Juli Antoni.
Next blue chair, I would like to invite the Director General of Watershed Management, miss Diamoinsy to deliver the context setting remarks for this site event, please.
Thank you, Mr.
Eto.
Honor Minister and ambassador, our panel discussion and Tish participants.
Good afternoon.
Firstly, let me start by commending UNF Secretariat on orghoizing the 21st session of United Forum on forests.
I would like also to express my sincere appreciation to UNF member countries for your presence and continued commitment to advancing sustainable forest management and climate action.
Excellencies and doing it participants, mangroves are not just ecosystems.
They are a living, a source of life and a symbol of our commitment to sustainable future.
As the country with the largest mangrove forest area in the world, covering about 23% of the kupal total Indonesia pests put off responsibility and great honor to be at the forefront of mangrove conservation and rehabilitation efforts.
In recent years, Indonesia have implemented mangrove protection and rehabilitation, which accelerating significant progress through for large scale rehabilitation and priority provins community livelihood motels such as sulfury ecotourism, and revitalization of decreed mangrove areas.
Mangrove ecosystems distributed across Asia, Africa, and America are a vital yet often under recognized component of global forest system.
Therefore, Indonesia realizes that to protect mangrove ecosystem requires cooperation across sectors.
Institutions and countries.
Declaration of Sustainable Management for Global of mangrove at UNA form was an initial global milestone in mangrove conservation and rehabilitation, which promoted collaboration between Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and United Nations on environment Procrim.
Furthermore, Indonesia, through the Ministry of forestry has taken a leading role in advancing sustainable mangrove management, by building on its extensive experience in large scale rehabilitation and conservation.
Indonesia also inherited the establishment of the We Mangrove Center as a cual hub for knowledge, exchange, science based best practices, and international cooperation and collaboration.
Excellencies and distinguished participants.
To events is a collaboration between the government of the Republic of Indonesia and the World Bank, Global Green Cat Institute, Japan International Cooperation Agency, Food and Agriculture Organization, International Tropical Timber Organization and IFWTman which is one of the YMC activities that has expected outcomes for showcasing the wet mangrove Center as scalable operational platform for mangrove knowledge exchange capacity building and best practices replication.
Advancing the crop forest go by promoting mangrove restoration, sustainable management and cross sectoral and international cooperation, and then strengthening partnership and networks among governments, UN agencies, research institutions, and stakeholders to coordinate and engage in collaborative global mangrove action and last mobilizing political commitment, technical support, and financing to implement mangroves as network based solution for climate resilience, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable development.
Excellence and it participants reiterate the invitation Minister of Forestry of the Republic of Indonesia.
We're calling on nations, international organizations, private sector, and leading scientific institutions to join the World maro Center, which brings on a new global partnership when based on shared commitment, but created by clear leadership for our causes, our people, and our planet.
Once again, we would like to hear more of infall insight and experience from you all pertaining to successory and share how to deal with challenges in developing sustainable macro management in the agenda of the Magro Center.
Thank you.
Thank you, miss Dia Markini.
Before we go into the panel session, we would like to invite Excellency Rosa Mato, Minister of the Forest Economy of Republic of Congo, to deliver her brief remarks as our special guest.
Thank you so much.
Excuse me because I'm French speaking and my English is so bad.
Honorable Minister, I would like to say thank you for inviting Congo to this important session.
The Republic of Congo Congratulate the government of Indonesia for organizing this important event dedicated to mangrove and for this ecosystem is very important for Congo.
We have a mangrove in Congo and this ecosystem is important for biodiversity, for people living.
In the mangrove area.
I will say that the Republic of Congo will support this cooperation and take part of the center, the mangrove Center would make.
Thank you so much.
Thank you, Excellency, Minister.
I think now we can go straight to the panel session.
We have four distinguished panelists that will deliver their thoughts, ideas for our discussion during this side event.
I think I would like to make a very strict proposal, maybe more maximum 6 minutes for each panel, if it's possible for each panelist.
For the first panelists, I would like to invite Mr.
Nicholas Suyobswinro, the Director for Mangrove Rehabilitation from the Ministry of Forestry Republic of Indonesia.
Maybe around 6 minutes.
Good afternoon.
Ladies and gentlemen, Disting missed Guests, Excellency Bapami Omar, Excellency Pappa Raja Giulianoni, the Minister of Forestry of Republic of Indonesia.
Excellency Rosali Matando.
Ladies and gentlemen, it's an honor for me to speak today on behalf of Ministry of Forestry of the Republic of Indonesia regarding the World Mangrove Center, an initiative that reflects our shared commitment to protecting mangrove ecosystem for present and future generation.
Today, allow me to begin with introducing the World Mangrove Center as Indonesia's initiative to strengthen global collaboration on mangrove sustainability.
As already mentioned previously by moderator and Excellency Minister of Forestry of Indonesia, Indonesia is a home of approximately 23% of the world mangroves, covering around 16.53 million hectas.
This places Indonesia in a strategic position as one of world's largest custodian of mangrove ecosystem and global leader in blue Cd born Initiative.
For we, for us, for Indonesia, mangroves are not only coastal forests.
They are natural infrastructure that protect coastline, support biodiversity, sustain fisheries, and livelihood, and contribute significantly to climate mitigation and adaptation.
Mangrove are also among the world's most effective natural carbon sinks.
However, the challenges facing mangrove ecosystems are global in nature.
Coastal degradation, land conversion, climate change, and unsustainable development continue to threaten this ecosystem across region and continent.
Therefore, no country can address this challenge alone.
It is within this context that Indonesia initiated the World Mangrove Center.
Ladies and gentlemen, this is miss Gas.
The World Mangrove Center is envisioned as a global knowledge hub and collaborative platform dedicated to strengthening research, knowledge sharing, policy collaboration, capacity building, restoration initiative, financing partnership, monitoring system, global advocacy, and public awareness on mangrove sustainability.
Indonesia believes that successful mangrove management requires not only strong policy commitment, but also collaboration among stakeholders at local, national, regional and global level.
In recent years, Indonesia has continued to strengthen mangrove rehabilitation and conservation through cross sectoral coordination and the integration of mangrove agendas into climate action and sustainable development priorities.
At the same time, we also recognize that many countries and institution possesses valuable experiences and expertise that can enrich our collective effort toward global mangrove sustainability.
Today, World Bank Growth Center continues to grow through partnership and contribution from various international initiative and organization including World Bank, Triple GI through NSLm, KFW Germany through Forest Program six, CA, Jaf, and also Afoo.
We also hope to strengthen future collaboration with ITTO, FAO, and many other countries and organization to support mangrove sustainability, nationality and globally.
These demonstrate that mangrove sustainability requires strong cooperation across government, development partners, research institution, and local communities.
Next slide, please.
The World Mango Center Initiative began in 2019 during Una War when Indonesia introduce the idea of establishing a global collaborative hub for mangrove sustainability management.
As moderator mentioned before, the states how we proceed with the World Mangrove Center as already explained previously.
So I will continue with the next slides because the time has already decreased.
I think we slide number five.
To operationalize this vision, World Mangrove Center focuses on several strategic priorities.
First, operationalizing the World Mangrove Center as an effective and inclusive platform.
Second, advancing research on mangrove conservation, rehabilitation, and sustainable management.
Third, strengthening capacity building and technical cooperation among countries and stakeholders.
Fourth, enhancing awareness raising, outreach, communication, and campaign.
Fifth, developing pilot project, demonstration plot, and learning centers.
Sixth, promoting multi stakeholder collaboration to replicate and scale up successful initiative.
S, facilitating policy dialogues to strengthen international cooperation on mangrove sustainability.
Through these priorities, Mangrove Center aims to bridge science, policy, and community action.
Let me go to the last slide, I think, because the Okay.
Beyond policy and cooperation, World Mangrove Center is expected to deliver concrete benefits for countries, communities, and global stakeholders.
The World Mangrove Center will serve as a forum for exchanging expertise, experiences, success stories, lesson learned, and applicable research finding from different regions of the world.
We will also provide a global reference for sustainable mangrove management through data, information sharing, and knowledge exchange.
Furthermore, countries will have the opportunity to showcase successful mangrove management models as example for the international community.
Through this benefit, World Bango Center aims to strengthen both regional and global cooperation in advancing sustainable mangrove management.
Ladies and gentlemen, the future of mangrove depends on our ability to work together beyond borders.
Indonesia believes that through stronger international cooperation, innovation, and collective action, the World Mangrove Center can become a meaningful platform to support climate resilience, biodiversity conservation, sustainable coastal management, and community empowerment worldwide.
We therefore invite all partners and stakeholders to join us in strengthening the global network of the World Mangrove Center.
Because protecting mangrove means protecting our shared future.
Thank you very much for your attention.
Thank you, Mr.
Soyobasinro.
I give you 1.5 minutes bonus because you are the host of the event.
But I don't think the luxury is I will provide the same luxury to Mr.
Noriki Sakaguchi, senior advisor of Japan International Cooperation Agency, GCA, will deliver at 6 minutes presentation on building skills, sharing solutions, how to power sustainable mangrove features through technical cooperation.
Please, the mic is yours.
Introduction.
Your Excellency, Mr.
Mahadi, UN representative from Indonesia, Your Excellency, doctor Raj uni António, Minister of forestry and distinguished all delegation from Indonesia and other countries.
Thank you so much for having me in this important mission session on Waldman Growth Center.
I'm delighted I can join this meeting responding to Minister's invitation during our meeting of the Tokyo Head of office.
And so today, I'd like to share with you about our long history of our mangrove cooperation with Indonesia and next cooperation to function world mangrove Center as global hub on capacity building and knowledge sharing towards a sustainable mangrove future.
And so next slide, please, a I think we have a long history of Mangrove cooperation with Indonesia since 1992.
So in 1992, we rehabited 256 hect of the mangrove rehabilitated in Bali and Lombok.
Currently, the mangrove area is good condition and protected as a forestry park.
And 2003, we established established Mangrove Information Center and other information sharing and developed the training program.
2011 to 2014, we extend our experience and also the Indational experience and sharing a good practice and rest among Asean regions.
And at the timing of G 20 summit in Bali, we supposed to renovate the Mangrove Information Center.
So let me introduce later.
I'm happy to announce to you we have just launched new projects on the strengthening capacity of sustainable management of mangrove ecosystem based adaptation to climate change.
Next slide, please.
So as I told you, at the timing of G 20 summit, we supported the innovation of MIC to strengthen the function of capacity building and knowledge sharing.
We innovate exhibition facilities, including partners and Rama and monitors, introducing what is the mangrove ecosystem services and conservation efforts of Indonesia and the policies.
And also, we innovate meeting room for the capacity building and knowledge sharing, the dialogue including visual audio equipment.
And so next slide, please.
And so government of Indonesia also developed the new facilities next to the Mangrove Information Center at the timing of the G 20 summit and they're developing the huge scale of rs debates which can produce 3.8 million sidings per year, namely the President Joko Mangrove Nery Center, and also in the Grade Grand Forest Park developed the board work and tower.
And so these facilities, including the Mangrove Information Center, protected and designated as the World Mangrove Center by the ministerial Decree in 2024.
Next slide, please.
So when we consider the new project, so we So before that explaining the project, we consider the policy integration to achieve mangrove rehabilitation and sustainable management.
Following the president degree, the Ministry of the Environment for three at that time developed the road map until 2030 and developed a better Mangrove National and identify the area for the disc rehabilitation and After the rehabilitation, we need sustainable management.
We consider apply another scheme, social forestry business community development and throughout this scheme to rehabilitation and sustainable management, we can contribute to achieve the 2030 equal area Ning NDC.
Next slide, please.
And also to conducting the project project, so the mangrove ecosystem provides multiple ecosystem services such as climate change mitigation, higher carbon storage and also contribute to the adaptation and disaster risk reduction and providing enhance the community livelihood through the fishery and ecotourism.
Next slide, please.
Okay.
So we developed a new project composed of three components, strengthen the MIC function through the capacity building, especially target holder, international stakeholders and also developed a model on the rehabitation and sustainable management, focusing through fishery and ecotourism.
And the last is important to the functioning World Mangrove Center as a global hub promoting the international capacity building and sharing the knowledge, which can contribute to achieve the NDC 2030 targets.
Next slide, please.
The last Lastly, let me introduce about the function of the World Mangrove Center, Global household capacity building knowledge sharing.
Using the World Mangrove Center facilities, the study Center, Mangrove Information Center, and we work together with AM member states aminate AM Mangrove Network.
So they had the project in 2023 and develop the sustainable man global ecosystem management strategy and also guidelines to implement that.
And so they are considering and preparing the next project, the capacity enhancement and knowledge sharing implement the strategy.
We our projects support the capacity building or training workshop and also sharing knowledge, good practice, also the organizing the dialogue among a Asean member states.
Also, we can support not only the Asean countries, the mangrove states in the world.
We cover some schemes of such triangular cooperation scheme.
We can support the capacity enhancement, knowledge sharing, scale conservation, restoration, sustainable management through the organized training and dialogue.
The last slide, please.
Thank you very much and Mashi.
Ja, working together with Idation through enhancing the function of WMC, we would like to contribute to the conservation, restoration, and sustainable management of mangroves in the world.
Thank you very much.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank.
Next, I would like to give the next opportunity to miss Sham Sakuu, the Executive Director of the International Tropical Timber Organization, ITTO that will deliver an intervention presentation related to the value of mangroves and its products to communities, climate, and sustainable global trade.
Very much, Mr.
Moderator.
We've just seen the ministers leave, so I don't have to pay salutations to them.
Also the ambassador, but distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen.
I think you all know who IGTO is.
Next slide, please.
Just a quick recap of who we are, 76 members headquartered in Yokohama.
Many of you in this room are members of the ITTO.
Next slide, please.
You are tied and bound by the International Tropical Timber Agreement in 2006, ITTO's area of coverage on this map.
As you can see, we span right across the tropical belt of the globe and in Asia Pacific, we have all the large forested countries as ITTO members, which of course includes Indonesia as the largest.
Next slide, please.
Now, we all know how powerful mangroves are as a nature based solution and how important mangroves are for coastal protection against abrasion and coastal erosion.
It's also a habitat and biodiversity hotspot, maintains water quality maintenance and with recent interventions, when I say recent in the last three to four decades, it has become a livelihood and economic benefit generator for the communities that depend on them.
In addition to, of course, being large contributors to climate change mitigation in terms of carbon sequetration, and also carbon storage, which is not actually mentioned on this slide.
Next one, please.
Now, we have done a lot of work and contributed to mangrove conservation in Indonesia itself through several projects, one of which is this one here on this current slide now in the Del Serdan and Tapanuli Lakat Del Cerdan and Tapanuli Ta in North Sumatra.
The rehabilitation of these mangroves were key in producing and collection of the baseline data collection, policy analysis, the model development and project proposal formulation.
The key outputs here were, of course, provincial mangrove databases were produced.
The policy review contributed to updated forest maps, and a full proposal for rehabilitation and sustainable utilization of the mangrove forest area.
Next slide, please.
The next one, of course, the one that Atito supported was to promote large scale mangrove rehabilitation across Bintan Island.
This was aimed at reducing ecosystem degradation and to restore damaged coastal habitats and improve critical shoreline land vulnerable to erosion and environmental decline.
As a result, of course, of strengthened coastal protection and ecological resilience, it supported the recovery of the mangrove ecosystems on Bintan Island.
The output, of course, was rehabilitated and controlled community driven mangrove exploitation through sustainable measurement sustainable management measures.
I'm sorry, I'm a little bit tired, so I'm jumping over my tongue right now.
It's helping the local communities balance resource use with long term conservation of Bintan Island's mangrove forests.
Now, the one other project, large one, which was valued at more than $1 million also in Indonesia, was in the Meru Batiri National Park.
That was a very impactful project.
I'm sorry that we did not highlight that project on these slides, but I just wanted to recap that that one also had tremendous positive impact on mangrove conservation in Indonesia.
IGTO is extremely proud to have contributed to that effort.
The next one, of course, is one of my favorites naturally.
Next slide, please.
All of these are my favorites, but this one, not Fiji.
Before this, there was another one in Batan.
Yes, Matan.
In my previous capacity, of course, we took a number of mangrove interested delegates and government delegations to the Matan area of Peraag, which is my home state.
The impact here, of course, was, again, it integrated sustainable livelihoods into the conservation of the mangrove area because they implemented a 30 year cutting cycle between the different forest compartments within the forest management unit.
So it's sustainably logged, sustainably regenerated, and the mangrove logs were used for producing high quality charcoal and the main importer of this high quality charcoal, of course, is our host country, Japan.
Very high quality charcoal for medicinal purposes and also for carbon absorption within refrigeration systems and air conditioning systems.
Thank you.
Next slide, please.
Fiji, another one, which is still ongoing almost completion.
This one introduced aquaculture in it.
Again, it contributes to the sustainable bioeconomies of the communities that live in the area.
Next slide please.
I'm just racing through now because I've been told we have 2 minutes left.
The Pacific coast of Panama, you see attitu is active in all regions of the world.
In Panama, we managed to produce 1.3 million seedlings.
Through collaborative efforts.
The seedlings were used to rehabilitate and replant the coastal area and it became a bird collection species actually around that same area, contributing to agroforestry and reforestation.
The last one, next slide, please, in Peru, actually, this is the second last one.
Peru as well, key actions included government and community training and the establishment of protected areas and participatory management.
Next slide in Benin, in the Ramsa sites, this was more geared towards the conservation of sacred forest areas.
The communities there were so thankful and grateful because the socio cultural aspects of this project was important to them.
Next slide, please, our technical work on carbon projects.
I think you can access all those publications on our website.
Knowledge mobilization efforts conducted by the ITTO we supported the publication of the Atlas of mangroves and we are looking for sources to reproduce and update this Atlas.
We co organized the International Conference on sustainable mangrove ecosystems graciously hosted by the government of Indonesia in Bali, and we also helped to establish GloMIS which is the global mangrove database and information system implemented since 1997, and they have collection centers in all three regions of the world headquartered in Okinawa, Japan.
Next slide, please, the strengthened international collaboration.
ITTO was also quite instrumental in supporting the establishment of the World Mangrove Center, and we congratulate the government of Indonesia on this tremendous effort.
It is positioned as the global hub for mangrove research and innovation, which ITTO will very happily and proudly support as we move forward.
We are currently sitting on the advisory team together with CPO and ZMT.
ITTO commits to supporting the operations of the World Man Growth Center moving forward.
We are perfectly positioned to do this.
At a time when multilateralism and international development is becoming tighter in terms of financial resources, the kind of collaborative action that we are trying to promote here through our member country of Indonesia and through other member countries who are involved in our efforts is something that will produce positive results in the future, and we congratulate the running of the World Man Growth Center.
With that, I think I should stop and thank you for your attention.
Thank you.
I would immediately like to invite the next panelist, miss Malgorzata Busco Brisco for Secretary and Senior Forestry Officer of FAO, to also deliver the speech on the same theme as the previous speaker.
Miss Sau, over to you.
Thank you very much, moderator.
Good afternoon, everyone.
I hope everyone is still awake.
It's been a long day.
Let me start by thanking the government of Indonesia for hosting.
This is actually the last slide, if you could possibly go to the first slide.
Thank you very much to the opening slide.
Thank you to the government of Indonesia for hosting and convening this important event.
Tafao is honored to contribute to the dialogue and bring global attention to mangroves.
I will actually contribute on two aspects to these discussions today on mangroves for adaptation and resilience and the critical role that mangroves play for food security and livelihood.
Next slide, please.
We all know that mangroves are the frontline ecosystems for climate adaptation and resilience.
Previous speakers have mentioned many of the benefits of mangroves already for social, economic, and biodiversity and environmental services.
I would just like to add a few points to this.
Mangroves, in addition to what was said already, reduce wave energy, they protect coastlines from storms and erosions.
They help protecting millions of people from coastal floodings.
Of course, they store a lot of carbon four to five times more per hecta and many other terrestrial ecosystems.
They strengthen adaptation by supporting fisheries, water regulation, and resilient coastal livelihoods.
Next slide, please.
They also contribute to food security.
They are central to food security.
Allow me to make a reference here to the States of the world's mangroves 2024 report to which FIO contributed together with partners from the global mangrove Alliance.
Mangroves are among the world's most productive ecosystems.
They sustain rich food webs and they support fisheries and aquatic food.
They generate exceptionally high economic value per hectare.
There is data that suggests that mangroves ecosystem services are valued up to $57,000 per hectare per year, including fisheries, timber, fuel wood, medicines, coastal protection, and ecotourism.
Therefore, investing in mangroves protections, it's not only environmentally important, it is also economically sound strategy.
Next slide, please.
Moving on to four dimensions of food security and benefits of mangroves for food security.
They contribute to all four dimensions.
First, availability.
They provide fish, seafood, and other foods.
Second, access.
Fisheries and mangroves they provide fish, seafood and other foods, and they also generate income for households.
Third, utilization.
Mangrove foods are rich in protein, megatory fatty acids, and essential nutrients and fourth, stability.
These food sources are locally available throughout the year.
Mangroves also provide materials for fishing activities, including wood ropes, boat buildings, and so on.
Healthy mangroves, therefore, strengthen nutrition, income, and resilience simultaneously.
Next slide, please.
Um, I want to make a reference to some results from recent studies which demonstrate the importance of mangroves, but I probably will not go to details because we don't have time for this.
Let me just mention here that when we will share this presentation with all the participants, that mangroves support more than 7 billion juvenile fish and invertebrates each year.
I'm representing here a lot of data from technical teams from FIO that work on mangroves.
They know all the details on this in our division.
And so there are many species that are commercially important species, and coastal communities near dense mangroves consume 28% more fresh fish and aquatic food than other places.
I think those data speak a lot about the importance of healthy mangroves for healthy diets.
Next slide, please.
Um, a little bit of data on the changes in mangroves areas, but I will probably not again not go into the details.
Let me just mention that FIO have launched the report in 2023 on the status of the mangroves, which occur in 123 countries around the world.
There is a little bit of data from the last two decades, starting 2000-2020.
These are the two decades which these reports cover and you can find key information u on this data, including on changes in the mangroves areas, the drivers of change, and also linkages to food and aquatic aspects.
But it's good to remember that mangroves are also very dynamic and in the right conditions, they also can regain new areas rapidly.
I think it's an important point to mention.
Next slide, please, and I'm going to the end soon.
This is a slide that presents drivers of mangroves lost.
Many speakers before me already mentioned several of these drivers, unsustainable production systems, climate change, natural retractions and so on.
At the same time, I think it's really important to focus on the solutions and the sustainable production practices that can reduce pressures on mangroves.
Let's move on to the next slide.
Um, this slide presents FAS work in mangrove similar to ITTO and GCA and other partners in the room.
We've been working with member countries on different projects related to mangroves conservation and sustainable use around the world.
We lead on 50 plus projects in 28 countries currently.
For example, we've been working with large mangrove countries, if I may say so, Brazil, Cameroon, Kenya, India, Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines, among others.
And we are working to look into the integrated approaches, recognizes multiple benefits of mangroves, not only conservation, but also sustainable use and resilience of food systems.
This is aligned with FALCre mandate.
Next slide, please.
One of the examples of a very successful project and a good case study.
Here, it's illustrated from a project in Senegal, which highlights the role of women in mangroves based livelihoods.
Um, in this project, we've been working on transforming oyster farming into economic opportunity, which was very successful from different perspectives.
More can be found on FIO website.
Next slide, please.
Finally, let me go to the World Mangrove Center momentum.
We congratulate Indonesia and partners for advancing the World Mangrove Center Initiative.
Collaboration will be essential for the success and the future.
First, obviously, we need more data monitoring learning systems.
Second, we need implementation of partnerships across government, communities, and organizations.
Third, we need sustainable finance that delivers long term community benefits.
We should also build on existing initiatives, we should learn from each other.
Stronger coordination can help scaling up successful solutions globally.
The key message is simple, by joining forces, we can achieve for greater impact together.
Next slide, please.
In closing, let me thank the government of Indonesia for hosting this important event.
FAR looks forward to continued collaboration with Indonesia and World Mangrove Center and all partners in advancing this important topic globally.
Thank you very much.
Thank you.
As we only have 6 minutes left, I would like to invite two invited interventions, one from the Philippines and another one from Ghana.
Please limit 1.5 minutes intervention each.
Thank you.
Mr.
Mogy, I'll try to go as quick as possible just to thank the government of Indonesia and co sponsors for this very timely side event and advancing the World Mangrove Center as a platform for regional international cooperation, knowledge sharing, and science based action on mangroves.
We fully agree that mangroves matter and what you're doing is making them matter even more.
I'd just like to share that in the Philippines, we have made some distinct progress in preserving mangroves and recognizing them not only as coastal ecosystems, but as vital natural infrastructure to help us combat climate change and protect biodiversity and promote resilience.
We see the World Mangrove Center as a really valuable platform for enhancing practical cooperation and scalable solutions to the common challenges we all face.
And we welcome this dialogue, and we'll work closely with you to make sure that the World Mangrove Center really delivers on its promise.
We just want to also emphasize that some areas for enhancing international cooperation can be data sharing, research collaboration, mangrove monitoring, restoration, and long term management.
We also want to underscore that integrating local communities in the work of mangroves, um, will ensure sustainability and relevance.
Lastly, just allow us again to thank Indonesia and all the partners here, especially His Ecellcy the Minister, the Minister from Republic of Congo too, and the ambassador for the very good work and rest assured that we'll continue to support and engage in this collaboration.
Thank you.
I hope I was on time.
Yeah.
A Philippines next to Ghana.
G.
Thank you, Chair.
Ghana commends the government of Indonesia and partners for convening these important side events on mangrove conservation and sustainable management.
We particularly appreciate Indonesia's global leadership through the World's Mangrove Center Initiative and its efforts to strengthen intergovernmental cooperation on mangrove ecosystems.
For Ghana, mangroves remain critically important for climate resilience, biodiversity conservation, fisheries, livelihoods, coastal protection, and carbon sequestration.
Recognizing the importance, Ghana Red plus strategy includes provisions for a jurisdictional coastal mangrove emission reductions program aimed at promoting sustainable mangrove management, restoration, and community participation.
Ghana also is home to internationally recognized ram society which continue to support migratory bears, biodiversity conservation, and the ecological integrity of our ecosystems.
However, this essential national coastal ecosystems faces existential threats of encroachment, pollution, over exploitation, and land use pressures that threatens or therefore necessitating urgent action.
This respect, Ghana has prioritized mangrove restoration in its revised forest landscape restoration strategy with the annual restoration target of 800 hectares to help compensate for estimated annual mangrove loss across the country.
In this regard, Ghana is particularly interested in learning from Indonesia's experience and best practices in balancing conservation, restoration, livelihood and environmental integrity under increasing human and environmental pressures.
Ghana stands ready to collaborate with Indonesia and other partners through South South Cooperation, technical exchange, and global partnerships to advance sustainable mangrove management for climate resilience, biodiversity conservation, and future generations.
Thank you.
Okay.
We have time.
Okay.
I think I will open for one intervention.
Yes, please.
A 1.5 minutes.
Thank you.
My name is Gail Davis and I'm an EcoSx CSO representative and I work with a lot of NGOs and governments.
I wanted to talk about blue carbon.
On the mangroves and a very important man who's won a lot of prizes in Japan, Carlos Duarte, and I know that he's done some work with WMC as well.
I think he's someone we can really seek out for the UN because after we get finished with these conversations and this wonderful woman has shown these beautiful presentations on what we can do, we just leave and it's left open.
I have a request of this entire room.
When you leave, don't be so ready to just rush out the door.
I'm in this place every day since 1998.
I ask that you actually connect with WMC and whoever is and really make a difference.
Indonesia brought this together with the co member states.
Please make it an opportunity to engage with each other and what specific measurable actions you can take to work on mangroves.
I've done it in some of the small island developed states with my team.
We're just a small team, but what can all of us do in Africa, Asia, everywhere.
Let's stop talking and get to the work.
That's my request.
Thank you.
Thank you.
So make sure that we make sure that the door is closed for 5 minutes after this concluded.
Is there I can still open for one more brief intervention, please? Do you hear me? Yes.
Thank you so much.
My name is Samba Chan from the UN Office for Sour Source Cooperation.
I'm really very happy to hear that everybody expressed interest in promoting collaboration among global source countries.
I want to build on the previous speaker to say that our office, the UN Office for Sour source Cooperation, would be more than happy to connect to broker this partnership among global source, especially in terms of a um, engaging on the climate action because mangrove restoration and conservation is real, as many speakers said, is a very good tool for nature based solution in terms of building resilience and also fighting climate change.
I thank you very much.
Thank you, Mr.
Sam.
I think now it's about time.
If there is no further intervention, I would like to invite Mr.
Minoru Takada to deliver the closing remarks for this event over to you, sir.
Thank you very much.
Li, appreciate the government of Indonesia for organizing this one.
It's so timely.
I also wanted to recognize the people in the mission of Indonesia here.
They are formidable in supporting the intergovernmental process.
Bram over there is wonderful.
Really, thank you so much for really supporting this conversation there.
I really wanted to pick up the last two of interventions here.
L, we are here in the multilateral system, United Nations intergovernmental Organization, international community here to connect each other.
Because there's a competency already, knowledge is there, result is there, know how is there, or you need to inspire each other.
This is the role of the United Nations.
This is the role of the international community.
That's why United Farum of Forest exists.
That's why ITO exists, that's why FAO exists.
I think the count on us, we as the international community will be always there, but also we appeal to you.
Please continue to invest in international cooperation.
I know we all know things are so challenging everywhere in the world, but this is not the time to give up on this international cooperation.
You built last eight years or hundreds of years to come to this stage.
There will be hiccups always.
But we have wisdom, we have history, we have lessons.
If we work together, we can go over it.
Look, this mangrove thing, because of the commitment of Indonesia and everybody here, we now have a center.
So why don't we take advantage of this one and use it for the greater good? So L, appreciate thank you very much for your participation.
I hope that we can continue this conversation and take action together.
Thank you very much.
Wonderful.
Thank you.
Thank you, everyone.
With that, closing remarks from Deputy Director of UNFF.
I would like to close this event.
The time is up for now, but we have all the time in the world to work together.
We share the same spirit, determination.
Now it's time to act, to follow up through our action points.
Only by working together, we can make things happen.
We invite you all to contribute work together with the Walt Mangrove Center.
We can make W a better place.
Thank you, everyone.
Have a good day.