BALINEWSID.COM, DENPASAR – Approximately three hectares of mangrove areas in Bali remain under rehabilitation and restoration. Bali Deputy Governor I Nyoman Giri Prasta has stressed that mangrove conservation must go beyond planting activities and include ongoing maintenance and growth monitoring to ensure the trees survive and thrive.

Giri Prasta made the statement during a mangrove planting activity involving the Avicennia marina species, organized in collaboration with the Bali Provincial Chapter of the Indonesian Online Journalists Association (Ikatan Wartawan Online/IWO), at Ngurah Rai Grand Forest Park (Tahura Ngurah Rai) in Denpasar on Friday, October 23, 2026. The event was held to commemorate Youth Pledge Day and brought together journalists, environmental groups, government representatives, and students.

According to Giri Prasta, data from Bali’s Environmental Agency showed that more than 18 hectares of mangrove areas had been damaged as of 2018. Through gradual rehabilitation and restoration efforts, most of the affected areas have been addressed, while approximately three hectares remain under restoration.

He explained that mangrove rehabilitation in several locations faces challenges because local ecosystem conditions do not yet fully support optimal plant growth. Appropriate approaches, including the use of technology suited to the characteristics of each site, are therefore needed to improve restoration outcomes.

Giri Prasta emphasized that the success of mangrove rehabilitation should not be measured solely by the number of seedlings planted, but also by their survival and continued growth.

Mangrove ecosystems play a vital role in protecting coastal areas from erosion, providing habitats for various marine and coastal species, and absorbing and storing carbon, thereby contributing to climate change mitigation.

“Not every problem can be solved alone, but solutions can be achieved through collective efforts. We are confident that the restoration can be addressed together. Let us care for our Mother Earth—one mangrove, a million benefits,” Giri Prasta said.

He added that mangrove conservation is a shared responsibility requiring active participation from the government, local communities, environmental organizations, and other stakeholders.

The initiative is also aligned with the Bali Provincial Government’s development vision, Nangun Sat Kerthi Loka Bali, particularly the principles of Wana Kerthi, which emphasizes the preservation and sanctity of forests, and Segara Kerthi, which focuses on the preservation and sanctity of the sea.

During the event, Giri Prasta provided financial assistance amounting to Rp20 million to the Bali Provincial Chapter of IWO to support continued mangrove planting and conservation activities.

He also witnessed the signing of a joint commitment between I Putu Agus Juliartawan, S.Hut., head of the Ngurah Rai Grand Forest Park Technical Implementation Unit (UPTD), and IWO Bali to protect mangrove ecosystems and Bali’s coastal areas.

Meanwhile, Tri Widiyanti, chairperson of the Bali Provincial Chapter of IWO, said the participation of journalists in the initiative reflected their commitment to environmental sustainability. She emphasized that journalists have a role not only in delivering information to the public but also in taking practical action to protect the environment.

“As journalists, we are committed not only to reporting the news but also to helping protect Bali’s ecosystems through mangrove planting activities,” Widiyanti said.

She expressed hope that the newly planted mangroves would grow successfully and provide long-term benefits for coastal ecosystems. The initiative is also expected to encourage younger generations to take a more active role in environmental conservation.

The event was attended by Denpasar City National Narcotics Agency (BNN) Chief Kombes Pol. Dr. Leo Dedy Defretes, S.I.K., S.H., M.H.; Bali Provincial Forestry and Environment Agency Head I Made Dwi Arbani; Ngurah Rai Grand Forest Park Technical Implementation Unit Head I Putu Agus Juliartawan, S.Hut.; and Bali Provincial Government expert adviser Dr. Drs. Agustinus Dei Segu, M.Fis., AIFO, also known as Agus Dei.

Other attendees included Ida Bagus Narayana, S.H., adviser to the Wira Satya Mandala Nature-Loving Student Group (SISPALA) at SMA Negeri 1 Kuta; the group’s chairperson, Komang Charissa Maharani; members of the Bali Provincial Chapter of IWO; and the Mangrove Ranger Bali team.

Through this cross-sector collaboration, the organizers hope mangrove conservation will extend beyond planting activities to include consistent maintenance, growth monitoring, and the continued restoration of coastal ecosystems for future generations.