Indonesia seeks stronger youth role in mangrove rehabilitation
The program is part of a public communication and environmental education strategy aimed at fostering awareness, care, and leadership among the youth as the vanguard of sustainable mangrove rehabilitation.
Director of Mangrove Rehabilitation at the Ministry of Forestry, Nikolas Nugroho Surjobasuindro, stated here on Saturday that the younger generation plays a key role in maintaining the sustainability of Indonesia’s coastal ecosystems.
“Mangrove rehabilitation requires intergenerational continuity. Through Mangrove Goes To School, we are preparing a younger generation that not only understands the importance of mangroves but also possesses the leadership, care, and courage to participate directly as agents of change,” he said.
Over its four-month implementation, MGTS has reached more than 2,000 participants across nine provinces.
The activities were held at several higher education institutions, including Gadjah Mada University, IPB University, Jambi University, Udayana University, Riau University, and Raja Ali Haji Maritime University.
These universities were selected for their proximity to priority coastal areas and watersheds, as well as their strategic roles in environmental science and advocacy.
The program has also reached four high schools in coastal regions to instill environmental awareness from an early age.
In addition to bolstering the participants’ understanding, MGTS also encourages concrete actions.
So far, the program has sparked enthusiasm among students for mangrove rehabilitation activities. This includes student research proposals, social media environmental campaigns, the formation of mangrove conservation communities in universities and schools, and students’ direct involvement in rehabilitation projects in their respective regions.
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Translator: Citro Atmoko, Raka Adji