Collaboration for Mangrove Conservation and…

Following two successful phases of mangrove rehabilitation in Bengkalis Regency, Aramco Asia Singapore, Global Environment Centre (GEC) and Yayasan Gambut (YG) announced an ambitious expansion of the Community-Based Mangrove Conservation Programme to four villages in Bengkalis and Siak regencies, Riau Province, Indonesia. The announcement was made during a celebration marking the completion of Phase 2 and the launch of Phase 3. Government officials, community leaders and representatives of partner organisations gathered in Buruk Bakul Village to recognise achievements and discuss future coastal protection plans. Building on significant progress since the programme began in October 2023, Phase 3 was scheduled to start in June 2025 and run for 18 months, using a comprehensive approach to strengthen coastal resilience through nature-based solutions.

The collaboration began when 100 volunteers planted 200 Rhizophora apiculata mangrove trees in a degraded area of Buruk Bakul Village. The initiative was launched to address severe coastal erosion. Research showed that the shoreline had retreated by 140 metres between 1991 and 2021—an average of four metres per year.

Phase 1 (2023-2024) established a strong foundation by supporting the Sekat Bakau community group and its nursery, which produced more than 10,000 seedlings for planting across 4 hectares of degraded land in Buruk Bakul. Species included Rhizophora apiculata, Ceriops tagal, Bruguiera gymnorrhiza and Avicennia alba to strengthen ecosystem resilience. A 100-metre wave barrier was built using 540 nibong palm poles to reduce wave energy and encourage sedimentation. The programme also supported knowledge exchange through a study visit to Malaysia, where community members learned proven mangrove restoration techniques.

A 200-metre wave barrier (APO) in Buruk Bakul Village

Phase 2 (2024-2025) significantly expanded these efforts. Two community nurseries produced 15,300 seedlings, exceeding the initial target of 14,000. By May 2025, 10,000 mangrove trees—Rhizophora apiculata, Ceriops tagal, Bruguiera gymnorrhiza and Avicennia alba—had been planted in Buruk Bakul, while 4,000 Rhizophora apiculata trees had been planted in the Kelapa Pati mangrove area of Bengkalis Regency. Sekat Bakau members also built another 100-metre wave barrier to reinforce the Phase 1 structure, creating a stronger coastal protection system. Comprehensive capacity-building activities involved more than 50 participants from various stakeholder groups, with support from specialists.

Phase II Completion Ceremony in Buruk Bakul Village, Bukit Batu District, Bengkalis Regency

Group photograph at the mangrove planting site in Buruk Bakul Village

The event took place on 18 May 2025 at 08.30 Western Indonesia Time. Participants included district and village officials, community leaders, Sekat Bakau members, primary school students, and teams from Aramco Asia Singapore, Global Environment Centre and Yayasan Gambut. They planted 200 Rhizophora apiculata seedlings to symbolically celebrate completion of Phase 2 of the mangrove conservation programme in Buruk Bakul.

The article records 67 participants in the planting activity, including:

Village government: 1 person;
District government: 1 person;
Community leaders: 1 person;
Students: 20 students from 3 schools (2 primary schools and 1 junior secondary school);
Sekat Bakau: 22 people;
Community members: 5 people;
Global Environment Centre: 2 people;
Aramco Asia Singapore: 4 people;
Yayasan Gambut: 4 people;
Media: 2 people.

The event opened with remarks from Khaidir, Chair of Sekat Bakau. He explained that the mangrove conservation programme had provided new knowledge to help address the challenges of protecting Buruk Bakul’s coast. He added that support from Aramco Asia Singapore and guidance from Global Environment Centre and Yayasan Gambut offered hope for continued efforts to protect the village’s ecosystems from environmental degradation.

Bukit Batu District Head Acil Esyno addressing the planting event in Buruk Bakul Village

Mulyadi, Director of Yayasan Gambut, described the initial effort to support Sekat Bakau through planting activities, which demonstrated the group’s commitment to protecting the coastal environment. These practical efforts became a priority when support from Aramco Asia Singapore became available. By the time of the event, 20,680 mangrove seedlings had been planted and 200 metres of wave barriers installed in Buruk Bakul Village.

Patsy Koh, Director of Public Affairs at Aramco Asia Singapore, expressed strong appreciation for Sekat Bakau’s work through Phase 2. She encouraged the group to maintain its commitment to environmental protection. She acknowledged that Aramco Asia Singapore’s ability to continue supporting conservation in Buruk Bakul had limits, while affirming its continued commitment to environmental stewardship.

Nagarajan Rengasamy, Manager of GEC’s Forest and Coastal Programme, said that GEC and Yayasan Gambut had seen tangible benefits for community groups during the programme. Sekat Bakau had experienced improvements in knowledge and economic opportunities. He added that the programme also supported Sustainable Development Goals 1, 2, 5, 8, 13, 14, 15 and 17.

Phase II Completion Ceremony in Kelapa Pati Village, Bengkalis District, Bengkalis Regency

Group photograph at the planting site in Kelapa Pati Village

The event was held on 19 May 2025, beginning at 08.30 at the secretariat of the Parit Seghagah Mangrove Conservation Group in Kelapa Pati Village. Guests were welcomed with kompang drumming, silat, pantun and a traditional welcoming dance, reflecting Bengkalis customs that remain part of local hospitality.

The event brought together stakeholders from across Bengkalis Regency. The article records a total of 233 participants, including:

Bengkalis Regency forest management group: 2 people;
Riau Provincial Fisheries and Marine Affairs Office: 3 people;
Bengkalis Regency Plantation Office: 2 people;
Bengkalis Regency Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises Office: 1 person;
Bengkalis Regency Industry and Trade Office: 3 people;
Bengkalis Regency Food Security Office: 2 people;
Bengkalis Regency Regional Development Planning Agency: 2 people;
Regency Environment Office: 3 people;
Communication, Informatics and Statistics Office: 3 people;
Bengkalis Regency Government: 3 people;
Kelapa Pati Village Government: 10 people;
Bengkalis Polytechnic academics: 10 people;
Bengkalis Polytechnic students: 50 people;
Primary and secondary school students: 70 people;
Parit Seghagah Mangrove Conservation Group: 25 people;
Makmur Jaya Women Farmers’ Group, Temiang Village: 2 people;
Jangkang Village Forest Farmers’ Group: 3 people;
Belukap Forest Farmers’ Group: 1 person;
Teluk Nibung Forest Farmers’ Group: 2 people;
Bengkalis District Government: 3 people;
Kelapa Pati Village silat group: 7 people;
Kompang group: 10 people;
Dance group: 10 people;
Operators: 2 people;
Kelapa Pati Village-Owned Enterprise: 2 people;
BELATRAM Group, Tanjung Kuras: 2 people;
Sepahat Hijau Forest Farmers’ Group: 2 people;
Sekat Bakau Forest Farmers’ Group: 2 people;
Global Environment Centre: 2 people;
Yayasan Gambut: 4 people;
Aramco Asia Singapore: 2 people;
Media: 2 people.

In his welcoming remarks, Defitri Akbar, Director of Bahtera Melayu, thanked Aramco Asia Singapore, Global Environment Centre (GEC) and Yayasan Gambut (YG) for supporting Phase 2 of the mangrove conservation programme in Bengkalis Regency. He said Bahtera Melayu was proud to collaborate and expressed hope that the programme would continue into Phase 3, drawing warm applause from those present.

Stakeholders at the opening ceremony in Kelapa Pati Village’s multipurpose hall

Defitri, whose organisation Bahtera Melayu was established in 1992, highlighted the close trading and cultural ties between Bengkalis, Malaysia and Singapore dating back to the era of the sultanates. He linked these relationships to the current programme, describing Bengkalis as a source of oxygen for neighbouring countries and noting that forest and land fires in the regency affect their air quality. Mangrove conservation, he said, forms part of a shared effort to maintain a greener Bengkalis. He stressed that conservation is a long-term investment and called for the active involvement of younger generations to carry the work forward.

Rio Fernandes, Chair of the Parit Seghagah community group, recounted its formation in 2015 and its efforts to stop illegal logging in Kelapa Pati’s mangroves and replant degraded areas. Planting activities consistently involve school and university students, alongside education about the importance of mangrove ecosystems for the environment and local communities. He described ecological and economic benefits from rehabilitation, including the presence of 20 true mangrove species and 5 associated species. The recovering ecosystem also supports increasing numbers of fish, shellfish, crabs, lokan clams, snails and sepetang. The group plans to develop mangrove ecotourism to strengthen local economic opportunities.

Johansyah Syafri delivered written remarks on behalf of the Bengkalis Regent, who was unable to attend. The Regent thanked Aramco Asia Singapore, Global Environment Centre, Yayasan Gambut and Bahtera Melayu for selecting 4 sites in Bengkalis Regency for community-based mangrove conservation. Johansyah said coastal erosion on Bengkalis Island affects 59 hectares annually, while sedimentation accounts for only 16.5 hectares per year. He expressed hope that the programme would continue beyond Phase 2 to accelerate and expand sedimentation along the island’s coast.

Johansyah Syafri, the Regent’s Expert Adviser for Community Affairs and Human Resources, delivering remarks

Patsy Koh, Director of Public Affairs at Aramco Asia Singapore, said she was honoured by the warm welcome, local cultural performances and support from the Bengkalis Regency Government. The event, she said, celebrated the close of Phase 2 while also looking ahead to the next phase, in line with the government’s request. Beyond addressing coastal erosion, the programme helps communities understand sound environmental conservation practices and sustain their commitment so that conservation can provide lasting economic benefits.

Patsy Koh, Director of Public Affairs at Aramco Asia Singapore, delivering remarks

The speeches concluded with the presentation of souvenirs and mangrove seedlings by Patsy Koh of Aramco Asia Singapore and Nagarajan Rengasamy, Manager of GEC’s Forest and Coastal Programme, to the Bengkalis Regency Government, Kelapa Pati Village Government and community groups involved in Phase 2.

Guests visited displays and purchased products made by community groups supported by Yayasan Gambut. They then travelled together to the Phase 2 mangrove conservation site managed by the Parit Seghagah group in Kelapa Pati Village and planted mangrove seedlings. Participants included representatives of the Bengkalis Environment Office, Industry and Trade Office, Food Security Office, Regional Development Planning Agency, Communication, Informatics and Statistics Office, the Riau Provincial Fisheries and Marine Affairs technical unit, Bengkalis District, Bengkalis State Polytechnic, Bahtera Melayu, the Bengkalis Malay Customary Institution and Kelapa Pati Village, alongside dozens of school and university students.