Indragiri Hilir, July 25, 2026 – The Yayasan Mitra Insani (YMI) held a commemoration of World Mangrove Day 2026 at Solop Beach, Pulau Cawan Village, Mandah District, Indragiri Hilir Regency, on Saturday (July 25). Themed “Coastal Community Collaboration for Climate, Life, and Prosperity,” the event served as a momentum to strengthen synergy between the government, community groups, and coastal communities in preserving the mangrove ecosystem.
The event attracted approximately 165 participants, including the Mandah District Head, 12 village heads, 18 Community-Based Organization (CBO) groups assisted by the Mitra Insani Foundation, as well as the local community around Pulau Cawan Village.
In addition to commemorating the event, the event also showcased the results of the community-based mentoring efforts. Participants were able to visit an exhibition of superior community products, a photo exhibition documenting mentoring activities, and an infographic exhibition showcasing the profiles and achievements of the 18 Community-Based Organization (CBO) groups in community-based natural resource management.
The exhibition illustrates how coastal communities have played an active role in preserving mangroves while developing environmentally friendly economic potential.
student engagement
Adding to the excitement, the participants were also presented with performances of the Solop Dance, Cindai Dance, Mande Dance, as well as poetry readings by Cawan Island Elementary School students who managed to amaze the invited guests. This variety of performances is a symbol that mangrove conservation is not only related to the environment, but is also part of the cultural identity and life of coastal communities.
series of events
The event opened with remarks from the Head of Pulau Cawan Village, who encouraged the entire community to continue protecting the mangrove area as a vital asset for the livelihoods of coastal communities. Next, the Head of Mandah Sub-district, Idrus, M.Pd.I., emphasized that mangrove forest preservation has significant benefits for ecosystem sustainability and community economic development.
“By conserving the forest, shrimp and crabs will thrive, thereby increasing community income. Planting mangroves is tantamount to providing breeding grounds for fish and various other biota,” said the Head of Mandah Sub-district, Idrus.
Following the opening, the event continued with a discussion with community groups assisted by the Mitra Insani Foundation. During the discussion, participants shared experiences regarding best practices, challenges faced in the field, and strategies for strengthening community-based mangrove management for greater sustainability.
A representative of the Mitra Insani Foundation, Gian Nofrianda, stated that the commemoration of World Mangrove Day is not merely a ceremonial event but also a space for shared learning.
“This activity provides a reunion to exchange information, enhance learning, and strengthen networks between groups. Through this momentum, we can also strengthen our shared commitment to preserving and protecting village forests and the environment for future generations,” explained Gian Nofrianda, a representative of the Mitra Insani Foundation.
As a demonstration of our shared commitment to environmental preservation, the Mandah Sub-district Head, the Pulau Cawan Village Head, and representatives from community groups symbolically planted mangroves on Solop Beach.
This planting symbolizes the collaboration between the government, the community, and the Mitra Insani Foundation in maintaining the coastal ecosystem and supporting climate change mitigation efforts.
The series of activities concluded with a Solop Beach cleanup involving participants, demonstrating their concern for the cleanliness of the tourist area and the coastal environment. The enthusiasm of the participants was further enhanced by the distribution of door prizes at the closing ceremony.
Through this commemoration of World Mangrove Day 2026, the Mitra Insani Foundation hopes that the spirit of collaboration that has been fostered will continue to develop into concrete actions in protecting mangrove forests and village forests.
Synergy between the government, community groups, and all stakeholders is expected to create sustainable natural resource management that will provide benefits for the climate, biodiversity, and the welfare of coastal communities.
