Singapore and Indonesia sign MOU on Community Empowerment in Mangrove Ecosystems

Media Release on MOU between Singapore and Indonesia on Community Empowerment in Mangrove Ecosystems

Singapore’s Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security Teo Chee Hean and Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Pandjaitan signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at the Singapore-Indonesia Leaders’ Retreat in Bogor, Indonesia, to collaborate on community empowerment activities relating to mangrove ecosystems in Indonesia.

Under the MOU, both governments will set up a bilateral framework to facilitate the participation of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and stakeholders to promote the sustainable use of mangrove resources in local communities, starting with a pilot in Setokok Island in Batam, Indonesia. Key activities to be carried out under the MOU include promoting community awareness on the importance of developing sustainable mangrove ecosystems and sharing of best practices on sustainable use of mangrove products and economic opportunities from mangrove ecotourism, which can improve local community livelihoods.

Both governments will also mobilise academic and research institutions in Indonesia and Singapore, local and international NGOs and stakeholders to undertake activities relating to the conservation and rehabilitation of mangroves and to conduct research on best practices in mangrove restoration and exploratory approaches for quantifying carbon contributions in mangrove ecosystems.

“The signing of this MOU underscores the close ties between Singapore and Indonesia in the government and people sectors, and our shared commitment towards advancing climate action and environmental sustainability. We look forward to more of such collaborations, which can also serve as pathfinder projects for the region” says Mr Teo Chee Hean, Senior Minister and Chairman of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Climate Change.

On 21 March 2022, both countries signed a MOU on Climate Change and Sustainability.