Jakarta, June 2 -- The Ministry of Environment emphasized the urgent need to maintain and rehabilitate Indonesia's mangrove ecosystem, as the country risks losing 19,501 hectares of mangroves annually.

During the 2025 Environment Day National Seminar monitored online here on Monday, the ministry's Deputy for Environmental Damage and Pollution Control Rasio Ridho Sani noted that Indonesia possesses 3.44 million hectares of mangroves, accounting for 23 percent of the world's total 14.7 million hectares.

"Every year, we lose approximately 19,501 hectares of mangroves. Thus, we need very serious action to address the loss of mangroves," he stressed.

Most of Indonesia's mangroves-about 2.7 million hectares or 79.6 percent-are located within...