The Directorate of Mangrove Rehabilitation under the Kementerian Kehutanan (Ministry of Forestry) reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening Indonesia’s coastal resilience by enhancing the role of the younger generation through the Mangrove Goes To School (MGTS) program.
The initiative forms part of a broader public communication and environmental education strategy aimed at fostering awareness, concern, and leadership among youth as the frontline of sustainable mangrove rehabilitation.
Within four months of implementation, MGTS has reached more than 2,000 participants, comprising university students and senior high school students across nine provinces.
The program has been conducted at several universities, including Universitas Gadjah Mada, IPB University, Universitas Jambi, Universitas Udayana, Universitas Riau, and Universitas Maritim Raja Ali Haji.
These institutions were selected due to their proximity to coastal areas and priority watersheds, as well as their strategic role in advancing environmental science and action. The program has also reached four senior high schools in coastal regions to instill environmental awareness from an early age.
MGTS activities include public lectures, interactive talk shows, thematic discussions, and field practice-sharing sessions. Through these activities, participants gain a comprehensive understanding of mangroves as natural coastal barriers, blue carbon absorbers, biodiversity protectors, and drivers of coastal community economies.
Beyond knowledge enhancement, MGTS encourages concrete action. To date, the program has sparked enthusiasm among students to develop mangrove-related initiatives, including research proposals, social media–based environmental campaigns, the establishment of mangrove-focused communities on campuses and in schools, and direct involvement in mangrove rehabilitation activities in their respective regions.
Nikolas Nugroho Surjobasuindro, Director of Mangrove Rehabilitation, emphasized that the younger generation plays a pivotal role in safeguarding the sustainability of Indonesia’s coastal ecosystems.
“Mangrove rehabilitation requires intergenerational continuity. Through Mangrove Goes To School, we are preparing young people who not only understand the importance of mangroves, but who also possess leadership, awareness, and the courage to engage directly as agents of change,” he said.
He added that participatory and data-driven educational approaches will cultivate a generation capable of integrating science, innovation, and collective action in addressing climate change, coastal abrasion, and development pressures in coastal areas.
Looking ahead, the Directorate of Mangrove Rehabilitation aims to integrate MGTS more broadly into the forestry sector and expand the program to at least 10 universities and senior high schools in coastal and priority watershed areas by mid-year, targeting more than 2,000 additional students. The expansion will be strengthened through support from the Mangrove for Coastal Resilience (M4CR) project and collaboration with local governments, community groups, and development partners.
Through MGTS, the Directorate of Mangrove Rehabilitation underscores that investing in the younger generation constitutes a long-term investment in the sustainability of mangroves and Indonesia’s coastal resilience.
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