Ecobiz.asia – Indonesia reaffirmed its ambition to become a global leader in blue-carbon development, with the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) emphasizing that protecting and restoring coastal ecosystems is both a scientific imperative and a moral duty.
The statement was delivered by Director General of Marine Spatial Management, Koswara, during the Carbon Digital Conference in Bandung, on Monday (Dec. 8, 2025).
Koswara opened his remarks by underscoring the human toll of climate-related disasters and the ethical weight of environmental stewardship. “Protecting and restoring our remaining ecosystems is not only a technical issue, but a moral responsibility to ourselves,” he said, noting that the intensifying impacts of climate change demand a societal response.
He stressed that Indonesia’s coastal ecosystems—mangroves, seagrass meadows, and other blue-carbon habitats—are among the country’s most powerful natural assets for climate mitigation.
Indonesia, he said, possesses more than 3.3 million hectares of blue-carbon ecosystems, representing roughly 20 percent of the world’s total. “This enormous potential makes blue carbon one of the key pillars of our national climate strategy,” he said.
According to Koswara, this global significance places Indonesia in a strategic position to shape the direction of blue-carbon methodologies, restoration efforts, and market mechanisms.
The government, he added, is committed to integrating these ecosystems into national mitigation and adaptation efforts, while ensuring that their development aligns with international climate-finance standards.
He noted that KKP is finalizing several instruments to support Indonesia’s leadership in the sector, including the national blue-carbon dataset, updated quality-assessment standards, and guidelines for restoration-based project development.
These frameworks are intended to ensure integrity, verifiable ecological improvement, and long-term benefits for coastal communities.
Koswara emphasized that Indonesia’s approach is designed not only to strengthen ecosystem resilience, but also to generate economic opportunities that contribute directly to local welfare.
By improving ecosystem quality and enforcing high data and governance standards, the ministry aims to establish a robust foundation for responsible carbon trading.
As global demand for high-integrity climate solutions rises, Koswara said Indonesia’s blue-carbon potential positions the country at the forefront of nature-based climate action.
He closed by expressing confidence that continued collaboration between government, communities, businesses, and international partners will enable Indonesia to turn its natural advantages into lasting climate and economic gains. ***
