Fully Funded

Mahakam Mangrove Restoration

Strengthening coastal livelihoods, biodiversity and climate resilience through mangrove restoration in Indonesia’s Mahakam River Delta.

Mangrove Restoration

East Kalimantan, Indonesia

1.2 million / 30 years

5,000 ha

Stage:

Post Feasibility

Standard:

Gold Standard for the Global Goals | Sustainable Management of Mangroves v1.0

ABout

Project Overview

East Kalimantan, Indonesia

The Mahakam River Delta is one of Indonesia’s most important coastal ecosystems, supporting fisheries, biodiversity and thousands of livelihoods. Over recent decades large areas of mangroves have been cleared, leaving coastlines exposed to erosion and flooding, reducing fish and crab nursery grounds, and undermining local incomes.

The Mahakam Mangrove Restoration project aims to reverse this decline by restoring 5,000 hectares of degraded land, planting approximately 4 million native mangrove trees across former and active aquaculture ponds. By rebuilding healthy mangrove systems, the project will help protect coastlines, restore marine habitats and strengthen local livelihoods while storing approximately 1.2 million tonnes of carbon over 30 years.

Implementation partners:

No items found.

CO-BENEFITS

Environmental co-benefits

Environmental benefits will be extensive, verifiable and long-lasting, with restored mangroves delivering enduring improvements to coastal and aquatic systems.

Restoring degraded mangrove ecosystems

Stabilising shorelines, reducing erosion and rebuilding critical ecosystem functions across the delta.

Habitat creation

Restoring habitat for species that depend on mangroves as nursery and breeding grounds, including fish, crabs and prawns. The project area also supports endangered wildlife such as the proboscis monkey and Irrawaddy dolphin, as well as migratory birds.

Climate mitigation through blue carbon

Re-established mangrove systems will sequester an estimated 1.2 million tonnes of CO₂e over the project’s 30-year crediting period, contributing to global climate change mitigation efforts.

SDGs

CO-BENEFITS

Social co-benefits

The project is designed to strengthen livelihoods, improve food security and create more stable income opportunities for households across the Mahakam Delta.

Strengthening livelihoods and income stability

Creating diversified livelihood opportunities through employment in nursery establishment, planting and monitoring, alongside capacity-building in mangrove management, integrated aquaculture and mangrove-based products.

Supporting food security and nutrition

Supporting the recovery of small-scale fisheries and improving the ecological health of aquaculture ponds will contribute to higher yields of fish, crabs and prawns that underpin local diets and incomes.

Inclusive participation and secure land access

Creating training and employment opportunities for women and youth in particular, alongside social forestry licensing that provides legally recognised land management rights and strengthens tenure security.

SDGs