JAKARTA - Mangrove forests play a vital role as a natural barrier against abrasion, a carbon store, and a habitat for diverse biodiversity. However, mangrove destruction in Indonesia continues due to land conversion and unsustainable human activities.

In commemoration of World Mangrove Day 2025, BRI Peduli as the umbrella of the Social and Environmental Responsibility Program (TJSL) reaffirmed its commitment to environmental sustainability through BRI Menanam- Grow & Green in the form of planting 10,000 mangrove trees in the coastal area of ​​Muaragembong, Bekasi Regency, West Java province.

This program is an ongoing initiative, following BRI Peduli's previous planting of 10,000 mangrove trees in the area in 2023, with ongoing monitoring and support. BRI Peduli is partnering with two local farmer groups: the Mina Bakti Bersama Fishermen's Group and the Sumber Makmur Forest Farmers' Group (KTH).

BRI Corporate Secretary Agustya Hendy Bernadi stated that BRI consistently supports environmental conservation by protecting coastal areas from abrasion and restoring mangrove forest habitats throughout the country. The mangrove planting in Muaragembong demonstrates BRI's commitment to preserving coastal ecosystems and supporting the government's efforts to combat climate change.

"BRI Menanam - Grow & Green, a program that involves planting mangrove trees in Muaragembong, certainly provides benefits for the sustainability and well-being of the community. Since 2023, BRI Peduli has implemented this program in the Muaragembong area. This means the program goes beyond planting activities; it also includes monitoring and supervision to ensure maximum and sustainable results," said Hendy.

He emphasized that in its implementation, BRI collaborates with various parties, including non-profit organizations and local communities, over a specific period. This demonstrates a concrete form of sustainable initiative whose success is continuously monitored and evaluated.

"We also empower local farmer groups. We hope this program will become a platform for realizing sustainable development practices with the aim of preserving the environment, absorbing carbon, empowering communities, and improving the economy," he added.

On a separate occasion, Endang, treasurer of the Sumber Makmur Community Forestry Group (KTH Sumber Makmur), revealed that the growing threat of environmental damage and the decline in natural resources is certainly causing anxiety for the community in her area. The mangrove ecosystem, which should be rich in function and benefits, serving as a green belt or barrier against the onslaught of sea waves in Muaragembong, is also slowly being damaged.

"Collaborating with BRI through the BRI Menanam- Grow & Green program is one of our hopes for saving our region from abrasion damage. In this program, we not only plant trees but also measure tree height and stem diameter for planted mangroves, including replanting any that die," he said.

He hopes that the collaboration that has been built by local farmer groups with BRI Peduli through this program can continue to be maintained and nurtured by the local community so that it can ultimately be useful for the sustainability of the lives of future generations and their children and grandchildren in the area.

For your information, mangrove planting in Muaragembong has been carried out since 2023, carried out in stages, starting from the preparation of the program design, provision of seedlings, planting, maintenance, recording the condition of tree development, and measuring potential carbon reserves and absorption until 2026.

Mangrove planting in Muaragembong is part of the BRI Menanam – Grow & Green program , where to date, 25,000 mangrove and sea pine trees have been planted in the Muaragembong area and Tuban Regency, East Java Province.

In addition to planting mangrove trees, BRI Peduli also provided community assistance in Muaragembong in the form of infrastructure development to support agricultural activities. This assistance included the construction of a bridge, a multipurpose room, a prayer room, toilets, fishing and culinary tenants for MSMEs, a greenhouse/hatchery , educational tourism boats, and training and empowerment.

"Hopefully, the mangrove planting activities that have been carried out in Muaragembong will provide benefits for the sustainability and lives of the Muaragembong community. Hopefully, the infrastructure built can help the activities of the local community, especially farmer and fisher groups, so that it can boost the economy and community welfare," added Hendy.