Central Java DPRD Promotes Coastal Protection Through Mangrove Planting

The initiative is important for maintaining ecological balance while supporting the sustainability of the agriculture and fisheries sectors.

Sri Hartini, acting chairwoman of the Central Java chapter of the Indonesian Farmers’ Harmony Association (HKTI), made the remarks at the ‘Mageri Segoro’ programme at the coastal area of PT Kawasan Industri Wijayakusuma (KIW) on Monday (9 November).

She said mangroves serve as a natural barrier protecting coastal areas from erosion. Their presence also supports marine ecosystems, which provide a livelihood for local communities.

Hartini also called on HKTI to work more closely with farmers, champion their needs and build partnerships that deliver tangible benefits to the agriculture sector.

“HKTI must always be among the community, especially farmers. We need to build partnerships and work together to protect the sustainability of agriculture and the lives of future generations,” Hartini said, according to the official Central Java DPRD website on Tuesday (10 November 2026).

Heru Jatmika, head of the Central Java provincial Environment and Forestry Agency (DLHK), said the mangrove-planting event was held in collaboration with the agency, HKTI and PT KIW. A total of 700 mangrove seedlings and 270 sea-pine seedlings were prepared, along with 10 seedlings each of mango, coconut and sapodilla.

The event, supported by PT KIW, was attended by around 200 to 300 people representing local government, regional government agencies, businesses, non-governmental organisations and the general public.

In his speech, Central Java Governor Ahmad Luthfi said the province’s north coast required continued attention and monitoring. The coastline stretches for nearly 720 kilometres across 17 regencies and municipalities.

The area faces erosion and groundwater-level decline averaging nearly 13 centimetres a year.

Luthfi said mangrove planting should be judged by whether the trees take root and grow, rather than by whether programme targets are simply met. The principle, he said, should be “plant small, harvest when mature”. The trees must therefore be monitored and cared for to ensure they deliver long-term benefits.

He recalled that, while serving as Central Java police chief, he had once initiated a mangrove-planting project that earned a MURI record. However, some of those trees can no longer be found.

The event continued with Luthfi and other guests symbolically planting mangroves. Participants then scattered Api-api seeds along the coast.