As Indonesia introduces a landmark 2023 regulation to manage forest carbon, this project in Southeast Sulawesi sets out to develop one of the country’s first blue carbon initiatives on village-owned land. Spanning 1,729 hectares of abandoned fishponds, the project explores the feasibility of large-scale mangrove restoration to enhance coastal resilience and carbon storage. Supported by the Blue Carbon Accelerator Fund (BCAF), it will also provide a comprehensive guide for navigating carbon legislation, paving the way for similar restoration efforts on non-forest lands nationwide.
Community-based mangrove restoration as a model for carbon projects in Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia
Building a model for mangrove restoration under Indonesia’s new carbon legislation
This pioneering blue carbon project in Southeast Sulawesi tests the potential for mangrove restoration on village land under Indonesia’s new forest carbon regulation.
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Podcast
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A partnership for nature and community with rePLANET
The Blue Natural Capital initiative, in collaboration with rePLANET, creates a nature-based solution that prioritizes community involvement. By aggregating restoration efforts across multiple villages, this project aims to foster a collaborative approach that aligns conservation goals with the interests of local stakeholders.
Funding conservation through carbon and biodiversity credits
The project envisions using carbon and biodiversity credits to finance mangrove restoration and conservation, creating direct economic benefits for local stakeholders—the restored areas' owners, users, and managers. With a commitment to equity, the project plans to return 60% of the carbon credit value to these stakeholders. It has mechanisms to ensure that women, in particular, receive a fair share of the benefits.
Restoring mangroves on non-forest (APL) land
The designated restoration sites, classified as Areal Penggunaan Lain (APL) or “non-forest areas,” consist of lands granted by the government to individual farmers. This project explores options to purchase APL lands for a community trust, securing them as protected mangrove forests. Additional strategies under consideration include leasing arrangements and eco-empang partnerships to benefit the 35 villages in the project area.
Engaging local communities and building consensus
With early consultations already underway, the project has engaged with all 35 communities, ensuring transparency and building local interest in the conservation scheme. These consultations are essential for aligning project goals with community expectations and securing meaningful participation.
Laying the foundation for a scalable conservation model
To advance this ambitious project, detailed budgets are being prepared for potential investors, and a formal Project Design Document is being developed for submission to Indonesia’s carbon registry, which is in alignment with Verra standards. This foundational work sets the stage for a scalable model for restoring abandoned shrimp farms to thriving mangrove ecosystems.
Guiding future mangrove restoration efforts in Indonesia
One of the project’s key outputs will be a comprehensive guide that outlines the necessary steps for mangrove restoration on APL land. This guide will serve as a valuable resource for replicating similar initiatives across Indonesia, helping other regions navigate the complex regulatory environment and achieve successful carbon and biodiversity outcomes.
How BCAF supports mangrove restoration in Southeast Sulawesi
The Blue Carbon Accelerator Fund (BCAF) supports this initiative by funding two essential project milestones to strengthen data integrity and environmental monitoring. This support includes a comprehensive biodiversity assessment and creating a world-class biodiversity monitoring program, ensuring the project meets rigorous international certification and audit standards for ecological markets.
Impacts created
Nature
The project will conduct in-depth analyses to assess ecological health, focusing on canopy cover, the richness and abundance of breeding birds, reptiles, and fish species, and the biomass of in-sediment fauna. These biodiversity metrics will help measure restoration success, ensuring the mangrove ecosystem thrives and supports diverse wildlife in Southeast Sulawesi.
People
This project engages 35 local communities and creates pathways for equitable benefit-sharing. 60% of revenue from carbon and biodiversity credits directly supports village stakeholders. Additionally, land purchases will be placed in a community trust to ensure permanent mangrove conservation, empowering communities to steward their environment for generations.
Business
The project explores the economic viability of fully funding mangrove restoration through carbon and biodiversity credits while projecting additional revenue opportunities. This initiative aims to establish a replicable approach by implementing a scalable, village-centered model, extending its impact to other regions facing similar ecological and economic challenges.
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