Jakarta, Indonesia Sentinel — Indonesia Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) is preparing 17 designated sites to be established as special national strategic zones (KSNT) for blue carbon reserves. The northern coasts of Central and East Java set as top priorities for ecosystem restoration.
Kartika Listriana, Director General of Marine Spatial Planning at the ministry, said the move underscores Indonesia’s commitment to managing blue carbon ecosystems, safeguarding the environment, and improving the livelihoods of coastal communities.
“This will represent the national interest in managing blue carbon ecosystems,” Kartika said during the National Marine Spatial Planning Workshop in Jakarta on Thursday (11/9/2025).
She added that several locations, particularly along the northern coasts of Central and East Java, will be prioritized for restoration efforts.
Blue carbon refers to carbon captured and stored by coastal and marine ecosystems such as mangroves, seagrass beds, and tidal marshes.
These ecosystems are capable of capturing carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere at higher rates than terrestrial forests. Globally, at least 55% of carbon is absorbed by marine organisms and stored long-term in biomass and sediments.
Kartika noted that the blue carbon development program will also extend to other national strategic areas, including coastal city clusters such as Greater Jakarta (Jabodetabek), Gerbangkertosusila in East Java, and Kedungsepur in Central Java.
The ministry also plans to push for Bangka Belitung’s UNESCO World Heritage sites to be developed as a “carbon-free island.”
“In the future, these initiatives can be planned and managed in an integrated way, aligned with each region’s development priorities,” said Kartika Listriana, Director General of Marine Spatial Planning.
Read Also:
Indonesia Launches Cost-Benefit Analysis Guide to Bolster Marine Conservation Efforts
Kartika expressed optimism that marine ecosystems, particularly seagrass, could strengthen carbon trading while simultaneously improving coastal community welfare.
She noted that seagrass holds significant potential in the global carbon market, with the ability to store up to 82,000 tons of CO2 per square kilometer. This potential, she said, could be harnessed through various mechanisms, including voluntary carbon markets and public-private partnerships.
However, Kartika acknowledged regulatory challenges. She stressed the importance of follow-up regulations under Indonesia’s Job Creation Law and a presidential decree on carbon’s economic value.
Such regulations are critical, she said, to establish standardized methodologies for measuring carbon content in seagrass, which would make implementation in the field more effective.
(Raidi/Agung)
