About Hutan Biru (formerly Mangrove Action Project, Indonesia)
Hutan Biru, formerly known as Mangrove Action Project, Indonesia is a non-profit organization that aims to increase the social-economic and ecological resilience of critical watershed systems across the mountains and seas. The organization has been working tirelessly for over two decades to protect and restore mangrove forests in Indonesia.
Mangroves are an essential part of coastal ecosystems as they provide a habitat for various marine species, protect coastlines from erosion caused by storms and waves, and act as carbon sinks. However, due to human activities such as deforestation, aquaculture development, and urbanization, mangroves have been rapidly declining in recent years.
Hutan Biru recognizes the importance of mangroves in maintaining healthy ecosystems and has taken up the responsibility of protecting them. The organization works with local communities to raise awareness about the importance of mangroves while also providing them with alternative livelihood options that do not harm these forests.
One of Hutan Biru's flagship programs is Blue Forests. This program aims to promote sustainable management practices for mangrove forests while also recognizing their value in terms of carbon sequestration. By working with local communities and governments, Hutan Biru hopes to create a network of Blue Forests that can serve as models for sustainable forest management practices.
Apart from its work on mangrove conservation, Hutan Biru also focuses on other critical watershed systems such as rivers and lakes. The organization works towards restoring degraded watersheds by planting trees along riverbanks or implementing soil conservation measures on agricultural lands.
Hutan Biru's work has received recognition from various organizations worldwide. In 2019 alone, the organization won several awards including the Equator Prize by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) which recognizes outstanding community efforts towards environmental sustainability.
In conclusion, Hutan Biru (formerly Mangrove Action Project) is an exceptional non-profit organization dedicated to protecting critical watershed systems across Indonesia through its various programs such as Blue Forests. Its commitment towards promoting sustainable forest management practices while also providing alternative livelihood options for local communities makes it stand out among other organizations working towards environmental conservation globally.