BANYUASIN, Indonesia: The Ampera Bridge is seen as an iconic symbol of wealth in Palembang, the investment of Indonesia’s South Sumatra province.
It travels hundreds of kilometers away from Sungsang IV settlement in Banyuasin regency’s Musi River, one of the longest in the nation, where it empties into the water.
Although this southern region once teems with mangroves, agricultural development and infrastructure development have put the trees in danger.
In efforts to revitalise the place and increase livelihoods, Singapore’s Temasek Foundation– the humanitarian arm of state investment firm Temasek – teamed up with Indian partners in 2021 to start a community-based tidal restoration programme in Banyuasin.
These organizations include the South Sumatra Watershed Forum, the Centre for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry ( CIFOR-ICRAF ), and the Centre for Excellence in Peatland and Mangrove Conservation and Productivity Improvement.
Since then, more than 15ha of trees – the size of about 21 soccer fields – have been planted it.
” It’s a very promising start, and we … ( hear ) feedback from the local government saying that, oh, we would like to replicate this in other areas, the same district. That is absolutely encouraging”, said Temasek Foundation’s mind of business development Amrin Amin.
” We hope that ( we ) will form a tipping point in the long run, to help catalyse progress and help us together address climate change,” he said.