Mangroves Pressured by Tin Mines, Babel Develops Protection Plan until 2055

PANGKALPINANG, LINE EARTH, GARISBUMI.com – The mangrove ecosystem in the Bangka Belitung Islands is facing pressure from tin mining, land conversion, coastal development, and pollution. To answer this problem, the provincial government is perfecting the Mangrove Ecosystem Protection and Management Plan (RPPEM) for 2026–2055.

It is hoped that this document will serve as a guideline for the protection, restoration and sustainable use of mangroves, as well as strengthening the resilience of coasts and small islands to climate change.

Head of the Environment and Forestry Service (DLHK) of the Bangka Belitung Islands Province, Amransyah Muslimin, conveyed this when opening the meeting for the preparation of the final draft RPPEM at the Santika Pangkalpinang Hotel, Wednesday (7/10/2026).

According to Amransyah, mangroves have a strategic role for Bangka Belitung as an archipelagic region. Apart from protecting beaches, this ecosystem maintains water quality, provides biota habitat, supports fisheries productivity, and stores blue carbon.

"Mangrove management cannot be done sectorally. We need integration between central and regional governments, regional apparatus, district/city governments, communities, the business world, academics and development partners," said Amransyah.

Mangrove Pressure from Mining to Climate Change

Based on the initial draft or Draft 0 of RPPEM, pressure on mangroves in Bangka Belitung comes from various activities. These include tin mining, coastal infrastructure development, settlements, land conversion, spatial use conflicts and pollution.

These ecosystems also face the impacts of climate change, including sea level rise and extreme weather events.