Nuffic Southeast Asia’s Post

Excited to share insights from our Nature-Based Solutions implementation. This article encapsulates the practical steps we've taken towards sustainable development of the Welang catchment. A testament to what can be achieved when we work with nature, not against it! 💪🌿⛰️

Mapping Mangrove Loss in Rempang: A Reflection on Conservation and Community This map highlights the changes in mangrove cover on Rempang Island between 2019 and 2024, I created this map using Sentinel-2 satellite imagery and processed with a Supervised Classification method. The results achieved an overall accuracy of 95.8% and a kappa value of 0.95, revealing a decline in mangrove cover by 224.08 hectares over five years. This project brought back memories of my experience as a research assistant for the Center for Economic Democracy Studies UGM, in collaboration with the Peatland and Mangrove Restoration Agency of the Republic of Indonesia (BRGM), during the "Biodiversity and Mangrove Forest as Potential Ecotourism Destination on Rempang Island" project in 2022. During field observations, I learned how local communities rely on mangroves as a source of income by producing mangrove charcoal briquettes for export. They shared that mangrove briquettes are highly valued for their superior quality compared to coconut-based ones. However, many also expressed that their fish catch has significantly decreased, leaving them with fewer options to earn a living. This dilemma has driven communities to increasingly depend on mangrove briquette production, which contributes to the massive reduction in mangrove cover on the island. If this condition continues, it will be deeply concerning, as we know that mangroves sequester far more carbon than natural forests, making their preservation crucial in the fight against climate change. This map is not just data—it’s a reminder of the delicate balance between economic needs and ecological sustainability. #MangroveConservation #GIS #GISMapping #Sustainability #RemoteSensing #EnvironmentalScience #Rempang #KepulauanRiau

For over a decade, the Restorasi Ekosistem Riau (RER) concessions in Sumatra, Indonesia, have maintained a remarkable record of zero fire incidents. This achievement is especially noteworthy given that the area, a tropical peatland forest twice the size of Singapore, is highly susceptible to fire. A successful fire management approach on RER peatland means protecting peat forests from illegal logging, land claims, uncontrolled drainage and conversion to agricultural crops as well as restoring degraded peatlands through peat re-wetting and tree planting programs. These activities will prevent fires from occurring, but in the case a fire should occur, having trained and well-equipped firefighting teams that are able to respond rapidly will minimize fire size and impacts of smoke and haze. Discover more #RERPositiveImpact stories on rekoforest.org #ExploreRER #APRIL2030 #ThrivingLandscapes #generationrestoration

Today is World Mangrove Day, and it is worth celebrating for us at Apical. Mangroves are carbon stores, and play an important role in regulating global climate. Apical’s areas of operations in Marunda and other cities lie are nearby to coastal areas, where mangroves thrive. Since 2021, Apical has organised mangrove planting in collaboration with relevant agencies. As reported in our 2023 Sustainability Report, over 12,000 mangroves were planted through this programme. As of today, we plant 3,500 mangroves in two spots: Pantai Indah Kapuk and Rorotan City Forest, North Jakarta. The Apical2030 vision aims to reduce GHG emission intensity by 50% in our production compared to the 2020 baseline. Learn more about Apical’s Climate Action initiatives by discovering the rest of our 2023 Sustainability Report, linked here. https://lnkd.in/gu5QFH7P #ApicalGroup #WorldMangroveDay #Mangroves #Sustainability #CSR #SocialResponsibility #ClimateAction

🌱 Integrated Landscape Management: The Key to Sustainable Collaboration 🌍 Excited to share insights from the "Practical Guide to Integrated Landscape Management" developed by 1000 Landscapes for 1 Billion People. This approach highlights five essential pillars to foster collaboration, shared vision, and long-term sustainability. Here's how ILM ensures successful multi-stakeholder collaboration: Building Partnerships: Engaging stakeholders across sectors to drive collective action. Shared Understanding: Aligning the landscape's history, trends, and opportunities. Vision & Planning: Developing long-term strategies for thriving landscapes. Taking Action: Coordinating sustainable, action-oriented plans with measurable goals. Impact & Learning: Monitoring, reflecting, and adapting based on results. In my work managing diverse landscapes in West Kalimantan, particularly in the agriculture-dominated private sector, we are adopting a jurisdictional approach. This integrated management plan is critical for sustaining the ecology and the economy. What challenges have you faced in fostering collaboration across sectors for sustainable landscapes? Let's exchange ideas! 💬 #Sustainability #LandscapeManagement #Collaboration #Agriculture #WestKalimantan

Located in West Java, Indonesia, the Citarum River catchment is a critical water resource for the region. However, the river is also considered one of the most polluted in the world, and the watershed is experiencing widespread degradation due to population growth, increased land-use intensity, and large-scale deforestation. In an effort to address these challenges, Mark Graeme and Amélie Uhrig from NatureCo recently joined partners in Indonesia to expand on an existing reforestation project in the upper Citarum River watershed. Launching into an exciting new phase, the project aims to restore land cleared for agriculture to mitigate erosion, landslides, and sediment runoff; increase biodiversity and enhance habitats; and improve local livelihoods and economic security through the introduction of sustainable agroforestry practices. The team came together to workshop crucial aspects of the project, focusing on stakeholder engagement and benefit sharing approaches involving collaboration with local community members to gain a deeper understanding of their context and needs. We're so excited to see the positive and long-term impact this project will bring to the environment and local communities. Would you like to find out more about us and the work that we do? Please visit our website and get in touch today. https://natureco.earth/ #NatureCo #naturebasedsolutions #naturebasedcarbonprojects #positivechange #integrity #carbonmarket

Day 1: Introduction to Water Reclamation in Selangor 💧 Water is our most precious resource. Selangor is pioneering sustainable water reclamation practices that promise a cleaner, greener future. Over the NEXT 30 DAYS, I'll be sharing insights on how these initiatives are helping us meet our community's water needs. #WaterReclamation #Sustainability #KitaSelangorSelangor ....

Challenges Facing the Food Estate Project in Merauke The Food Estate Project in Merauke, Papua, aims to transform vast tracts of land into agricultural hubs to boost food security. However, past attempts at large-scale agriculture in Indonesia, such as the Transmigration Program and the Mega Rice Project in Kalimantan, offer cautionary tales of failure. These projects struggled due to environmental unsuitability, poor implementation, and lack of engagement with local communities. Key Factors Likely to Impact Success: Annual Rainfall and Climate Suitability Merauke's rainfall patterns are inconsistent and not conducive to large-scale agriculture, particularly for crops like rice that require specific water conditions. The region's distinct wet and dry seasons pose challenges for irrigation and crop cycles, increasing the likelihood of water shortages during critical growth phases. Soil and Ecosystem Unsuitability The region's soils are not naturally fertile for intensive farming and would require significant modification, including chemical inputs, which could degrade the land over time. The clearing of forests and savannas for agriculture also risks disrupting fragile ecosystems and exacerbating climate vulnerabilities. Past Failures as Warnings The Mega Rice Project, initiated in the 1990s in Central Kalimantan, led to the large-scale destruction of peatlands without yielding the intended agricultural output. The environmental and economic costs of that failure highlight the risks of implementing large-scale agricultural projects without proper feasibility studies or long-term planning. Social and Cultural Impacts Large-scale agricultural projects often overlook the rights and livelihoods of Indigenous communities. In Merauke, the Food Estate Project could displace local populations, disrupt traditional farming practices, and erode cultural ties to the land, leading to resistance and project inefficiency. While the Food Estate Project promises economic and food security benefits, its environmental, climatic, and social realities suggest significant risks of failure. Learning from past experiences, a more localized and sustainable approach, rooted in climate resilience and community involvement, may offer a better path forward for ensuring food security in Papua and Indonesia as a whole. PHOTO CREDIT: https://pusaka.or.id/en/ #FoodEstateProject #Sustainability #Agriculture #Merauke #Papua #EnvironmentalImpact #ClimateAdaptation #IndigenousRights

River (flood) management for Welang river, based on an inclusive and nature based approach. One of the current projects under the MOU Water cooperation between Indonesia and The Netherlands. 

DownToEarth has reported how monocrop rubber plantations are degrading soils that once hosted rich and biodiverse rainforests. The result — increased soil acidity, poor conductivity, lower soil nutrients. This was part of the reason why we restored what was once a monocrop rubber plantation and set up Saarang — a food forest and an experimental community that offers its residents the chance to live in the lap of nature while enjoying all the amenities of modern, urban living. Here, we have the opportunity to undo what humans are doing to nature while making a return to cleaner air, food independence, and mindful living. Click here: https://zurl.co/FMIV #GoodEarth #Saarang #Malhar #RealEstate #Housing #NewHomes #ModernLiving #Community #Togetherness #SpaciousHomes #ComfortableLiving #FunctionalDesign #Sustainability #EcoFriendly #GreenLiving #Permaculture #RegenerativeAgriculture #ClimateAction #Rubberplantations #Rainforests #Monocrop