Building with Nature in Indonesia

Our mission

Demak, a low-lying coastal community in Java, has been plagued by erosion, flooding and land loss caused by subsidence and the felling of a nearby protective belt of mangroves. 

Rather than replanting mangrove trees, this innovating UN flagship has built fence-like structures with natural materials along the shore to calm waves and tap sediment, creating conditions for mangroves to rebound naturally. 

In return for letting mangroves regenerate, farmers have been schooled in sustainable techniques that have increased their shrimp production. With mangroves providing habitat for a host of marine organisms, fishers have also seen their near-shore catches improve. 

Implementing Organisations