World Mangrove Day is an Opportunity for BNI to Strengthen Commitment to Environmental and Coastal Economic Preservation

JAKARTA - In conjunction with World Mangrove Day which is commemorated every July 26, PT Bank Negara Indonesia (Persero) Tbk or BNI confirms its commitment to supporting the preservation of coastal ecosystems through mangrove rehabilitation which also opens economic opportunities for the community. This initiative is part of the implementation of BNI's Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles.

Through the BNI Berbagi Social and Environmental Responsibility (TJSL) Program, the company has planted 258,000 mangrove seedlings over the past eight years in a number of strategic coastal areas, namely Mempawah (West Kalimantan), Kebumen (Central Java), Thousand Islands (DKI Jakarta), Banyuwangi (East Java), and Pamekasan (East Java).

BNI Corporate Secretary Okki Rushartomo said that mangrove rehabilitation is part of BNI's strategy to build coastal resilience through a Nature-based Solutions (NbS) approach. This step is also in line with the direction of transformation of SOEs under Danantara Indonesia which focuses on creating sustainable added value for society and the national economy with the spirit of serving wholeheartedly.

"Preserving mangroves not only restores coastal ecosystems, but also creates new livelihoods for people. Therefore, we involve farmers' groups and residents from nurseries, planting, to the development of ecotourism and mangrove processed products so that the benefits of conservation can be felt directly," Okki said in a written statement.

In addition to absorbing natural carbon (carbon sink), mangroves also serve to protect coastal areas from abrasion, high waves, and sea level rise. This ecosystem is also an important habitat for various marine biota that support fishing activities while maintaining the sustainability of coastal resources.

This approach also encourages the growth of mangrove-based economic activities, ranging from ecotourism to the development of processed products, so that the benefits of rehabilitation do not stop at the environmental aspect, but also strengthen the welfare of coastal communities.

The impact of the program has also been measured. The evaluation of the Mangrove Forest Regeneration Program in Banyuwangi showed a Community Satisfaction Index (IKM) of 84.09 percent, which reflects the high appreciation of the community for the quality of implementation and benefits of the program.

"The spirit of Swadharma Bhakti Nagara encourages BNI to continue to present programs that provide real benefits to the community. Therefore, every TJSL initiative we direct is aimed at creating a sustainable impact on the environment while strengthening the local economy," said Okki.

In the future, BNI will continue to expand collaboration with the government, academics, communities, farmers' groups, and various other stakeholders to strengthen mangrove rehabilitation as well as develop an economy based on coastal ecosystems.

In line with the transformation of SOEs under Danantara Indonesia, these efforts are expected to create sustainable added value for the community and support national economic growth.