Indonesia and South Korea have strengthened their collaboration on mangrove restoration and blue carbon development on the sidelines of the COP30 Climate Change Conference in Belém, Brazil, on Wednesday (12/11). The bilateral meeting, facilitated by the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), marks a strategic step in advancing climate action and coastal conservation for both countries.
The Korean delegation was led by the Deputy Minister of Oceans and Fisheries, Jeong-ho Seo, while the Indonesian delegation was represented by the Director of Mangrove Rehabilitation at the Ministry of Forestry, Ristianto Pribadi, and the Head of the Bureau for International Cooperation and Public Relations, Krisdianto. During the meeting, the Korean side expressed strong interest in Indonesia’s globally recognized experience in mangrove ecosystem rehabilitation.
Ristianto explained that Indonesia has rehabilitated more than 165,000 hectares of mangrove areas, with a total mangrove coverage of 3.44 million hectares—about 23 percent of the world’s mangrove ecosystems.
“These efforts not only help maintain the balance of coastal ecosystems but also form a crucial part of the national strategy toward achieving FOLU Net Sink 2030,” he said.
He added that cooperation with Korea will strengthen global collaboration in mangrove management and blue carbon development as a nature-based solution for climate change mitigation.
Meanwhile, Deputy Minister Jeong-ho Seo expressed appreciation for Indonesia’s achievements in coastal conservation. He also reaffirmed Korea’s interest in supporting the establishment of the World Mangrove Center (WMC), initiated by Indonesia as a hub for international knowledge-sharing and collaboration on mangroves.
“We are impressed by Indonesia’s progress and wish to contribute through technological cooperation, research, and innovation to enhance coastal resilience,” he stated.
As a follow-up step, both countries agreed to establish a joint technical team to develop a more detailed cooperation plan. GGGI Indonesia will act as facilitator in the preparation and implementation of mangrove restoration and blue carbon development programs.
This collaboration is expected not only to reinforce Indonesia’s position as a global leader in mangrove conservation but also to mark a new chapter in the strategic environmental and climate cooperation between Indonesia and South Korea.
***
