LUMUT, 22 August 2025 – Over 100 community leaders, conservation practitioners, educators and local partners from Malaysia and Indonesia gathered at Forum Khazanah Bakau 2025: Nurturing Heritage, Building Hope to advance practical, community-led mangrove conservation. The event was co-organised by the Global Environment Centre (GEC) and Yayasan Sime Darby (YSD), with the support of the MADANI Government.
Across three days in Lumut, Perak, participants joined five focus group discussions on progress, governance, finance and product development, hands-on Nature-based Solutions workshops, and a field visit to Tebuk Mendeleng, Sabak Bernam. These engagements underscored the importance of community-based mangrove conservation in Malaysia and Indonesia, strengthening a cross-border model that serves as a blueprint for addressing climate change and coastal ecosystem degradation across Southeast Asia.
Six Malaysian community-based organisations and one Indonesian organisation shared experiences and approaches: Sahabat Hutan Bakau Kuala Gula (SHBKG), Sahabat Hutan Bakau Kampung Dato’ Hormat (SHBKDH), Sahabat Hutan Bakau Pulau Tanjung Surat (SHBPTS), Sahabat Hutan Bakau Pasir Panjang Laut (SHBPPL), Sahabat Hutan Bakau Kampung Taman Nilam (SHBKTN), Kelab Komuniti Bakau Parit Jawa (KKBPJ), and Yayasan Gambut (YG) from Indonesia.
Dato’ Dr. Hj. Mohd Puat bin Dahalan, GEC’s Advisory Council Member, said, “The forum serves as a vital platform for knowledge sharing and capacity building among our community partners. By bringing together experienced practitioners from Malaysia and Indonesia, we are creating a powerful network for sustainable mangrove conservation. This forum will strengthen the foundation for future collaborative projects and ensure that local communities remain at the centre of our conservation efforts. The relationships built here will drive innovation in nature-based solutions and community-led environmental stewardship across the region.”
Building on ongoing restoration and community engagement, GEC and YSD, with support from the MADANI Government, launched comprehensive mangrove educational modules featuring colourful illustrations and infographics. A total of 18,000 copies will be distributed to at least 172 schools and 11 relevant government agencies nationwide to widen access to mangrove conservation education.
Significant achievements under the ongoing GEC–YSD–MADANI Government programme were also highlighted. As of Q2 2025:
- 53,550 mangrove trees have been planted across six sites in Johor, Perak, Selangor and Kedah, rehabilitating 26.5 hectares of degraded coastal areas.
- 28 community meetings and four YSD Mangrove School Carnivals were conducted in Perak, Johor and Kedah, with one MOF-supported Mangrove Forest Ranger Carnival in Selangor reaching 134 students and 16 teachers.
- Four mangrove-based products were developed under the Mangrove Essence line, including Mangrove Brew coffee and Tea-Tide tea, both HALAL-certified and approved by the Ministry of Health. 4,000 units produced generated RM50,000 in revenue, demonstrating viable community enterprises linked to conservation.
- Nine personnel were hired for this project to support six communities across four states. Through community-based restoration initiatives, these efforts have enhanced livelihoods and enabled the production of mangrove-based products such as beverages, benefiting over 2,200 community members.
Dr. Hajah Yatela Zainal Abidin, Chief Executive Officer of Yayasan Sime Darby said:
“This forum is more than just a space for discussion — it is a collective commitment to action, learning, and progress. At YSD, we remain dedicated to supporting partners who uplift communities and create sustainable livelihoods, all while building capacity and strengthening governance. Most importantly, when local communities are empowered, willing to learn from one another, and lead with heart, their stewardship of the mangroves becomes not only sustainable but deeply rooted. Together, our shared efforts create a lasting, synergistic impact.”
The cross-border collaboration established through Forum Khazanah Bakau 2025 reaffirmed the role of community-based organisations as primary stakeholders in mangrove protection. The collaboration between Malaysian and Indonesian partners offers a practical model that can be replicated across the region, supporting national climate and biodiversity goals while strengthening coastal resilience and community well-being.
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