Association Planète Urgence - Programme Environnement & Développement

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Mangrove Restoration Program in Indonesia

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Mangrove

The rate of destruction of the mangroves is even higher than that of tropical forests. These ecosystems, which develop in the coastal zones of tropical regions, had been neglected for a long time by governments; considered as useless land, the mangroves weren't, until the last decade, made the object of any particular form of protection. Yet these ecosystems are at the interface of continental and oceanic biospheres and play a role as a buffer in protecting the littoral zone against erosion, storms, waves and of course tsunamis.

Despite being naturally resistant, today, mangroves are part of the most threatened habitats in the world. Their disappearance is essentially due to anthropological factors: marine pollution, coastal management (ex: seawalls), non-lasting aquaculture, and coal, forestry, and tourism industries among others. This set of threats particularly impacts the mangroves of Indonesia where the rate of deforestation is high. Still, the mangroves of Southeast Asia are those that account for the largest species diversity.

Localization

The project concerns the district of Deli Serdang, located in the province of North Sumatra, in the northeast of the island of Sumatra in Indonesia.

Map of Indonesia and location of the province North Sumatra

Infographie : Julien Genin - Planète Urgence

The Republic of Indonesia was brought into existence in 1945 with the independence of the Dutch Indies. It is the biggest island chain in the world, situated between the peninsula of Southeast Asia and Australia in the one hand, and the Indian and Pacific oceans on the other. The population of Indonesia is 220 million, placing this state as fourth largest in the world.

Sumatra is founded on an arc volcano - the inner arc of the Sound - and accounts for a massive mountain range, the Barisian Mountains, of which the highest point is Mount Kerici (3 580 m), situated on the western coast of the island. The Deli Serdang district is part of the eastern coastal plains. Situated on the second extension of the Malaysian peninsula of Borneo, these « amphibious » plains open to the Java Sea and the Straight of Malaccca.

Carbon Storage

Through photosynthesis trees construct their own organic material while capturing carbon dioxide. Half of this organic matter, or biomass, is carbon.

Profiting from optimal hydric and nutritional conditions, the vegetable species that our reforestation program concerns have high growth rates as well as rising densities. Therefore the storage of carbon is significant (for example, the growth rate is 16m3/ha/year for Rhizophora Apiculata (réf.Unasylva n°139, FAO)).

Socio-economic development

Several economic developments are considered: First of all, fishing activity will show an increase because of the restoration of the natural fish farming sites and their physical chemistry quality, therefore promoting a fishing industry more respectful of the environment. Complementing this activity and in the interest of diversification, beekeeping activities will develop as well as the production of handcrafts and fruit pastries.

The Carbon Corridor

The Indonesian government is supporting Planète Urgence to extend the reforestation to the north of the province, incorporating the district of Deli Serdang and its neighbour Langkat. Already 1300 ha have been rehabilitated in Sicanggang in the Langkat district.

This extension allows for the construction of an eco-ecological corridor and the sequestering of carbon between the Deli Serdang and Tibang districts, through Sigli and Lhokseumawe, and can therefore extend the « Indonesian Coastal Carbon Corridor » and the land into a protected zone, reinforcing the fight against deforestation.

Methodological Choice and Certification

The mangrove restoration program is constructed under the standards of Climate, Community and Biodiversity Alliance (CCB Alliance : http://www.climate-standards.org ). Certification is predicted for the second quarter of 2009.

Indonesia ratified the Kyoto Protocol in 2004, the protocol in which United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC : http://unfccc.int/) defined the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). The Planète Urgence reforestation program in Indonesia respects the CDM eligibility criteria of the UN, and will be registered after CCB certification in 2009.