Tarakan, Indonesia, August 27, 2025 – The North Kalimantan Provincial Government welcomed a high-level delegation from the Sri Lankan Ministry of Environment and Local Government in Tarakan, North Kalimantan. The visit is part of a knowledge exchange on mangrove rehabilitation organized by the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) and Wetlands International Indonesia through the Ecosystem-Based Approaches/Nature-Based Solutions for Climate-Smart Livelihoods in Mangrove Landscapes (NASCLIM) program. The program is coordinated jointly with the Ministry of Forestry of the Republic of Indonesia and the North Kalimantan Provincial Government.

North Kalimantan Governor Drs. H. Zainal A. Paliwang received the delegation by presenting the efforts of the Provincial and District Governments in managing and protecting mangrove ecosystems in coastal areas. “We appreciate the Sri Lankan delegation’s interest in visiting our home and using our efforts as a model for protecting and rehabilitating mangroves. We hope this visit will serve as a valuable lesson for the participants, enabling them to return home with knowledge that can be applied in the context of their own mangrove protection efforts,” said Governor Zainal.

In Bulungan District, North Kalimantan, mangrove protection and management efforts have become a priority for the local government, particularly in collaborating with local communities that possess traditional knowledge through the practice of utilizing mangroves for food and daily needs. “Mangrove ecosystems also drive the transition to a green and blue economy, providing climate resilience and social inclusion benefits for coastal communities. Mangroves offer numerous benefits for community livelihoods,” said Bulungan Regent Syarwani.

Dr. R. D. S. Jayathunga, Additional Secretary (Environment Development) of Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Environment, expressed gratitude to the Provincial and District Governments for their hospitality. “We are very pleased to have the opportunity to visit North Kalimantan and learn firsthand about the policies and action plans implemented by the Provincial Government to protect mangroves, as well as through nature-based solutions that have positive long-term impacts for communities,” added Dr.  Jayathunga.

The Government of Indonesia has invited the Government of Sri Lanka to collaborate in establishing the World Mangrove Center. At the meeting in Jakarta yesterday with the Ministry of Forestry, the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Jakarta formally accepted the invitation. GGGI Sri Lanka is committed to supporting this important initiative.

The Sri Lankan delegation will continue their study tour to Liagu Village to learn about efforts to protect and rehabilitate mangrove forests along the village coastline, as well as mangrove ecosystems that intersect with fish and shrimp ponds. The delegates will study the livelihoods of coastal communities living alongside mangroves and gain insights into how natural mangrove rehabilitation can have long-term impacts on community livelihoods. As habitats for fish, crabs, and other marine life, protecting and rehabilitating mangroves in coastal areas also creates sustainable livelihoods.

The delegates will visit the NASCLIM program’s mangrove rehabilitation sites and discuss with stakeholders. Following the visit, the delegates are expected to gain valuable lessons on institutional coordination, mangrove rehabilitation financing models, nature-based solutions, and community engagement that can be applied to strengthen the implementation of National and Provincial Adaptation Plans back in Sri Lanka.

About NASCLIM 

The Ecosystem-Based Approaches/Nature-based Solutions for Climate-smart Livelihoods in Mangrove Landscape (NASCLIM) is a collaborative program between the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) and Wetlands International Indonesia, designed to support the Government of Indonesia’s commitment to addressing mangrove deforestation. The program focuses on restoring degraded mangroves and protecting healthy mangroves in the Kayan–Sembakung Delta, North Kalimantan, and the Mahakam Delta, East Kalimantan, through an ecosystem-based approach.

NASCLIM is funded by the Government of Canada and coordinated with the Indonesian Ministry of Forestry. The program also aims to strengthen policy-making at the national and subnational levels that supports long-term mangrove protection, and to serve as a replicable model at the national and global levels.

Media Contact

Andita Listyarini, Senior Communications Officer 

Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) Indonesia 
+62 813 1725 4384 
[email protected] 

Woro Yuniati, Communications Program Coordinator 

Wetlands International Indonesia 
+62 812 2657 8710
[email protected]