Indonesian women earn income restoring mangroves
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Wisye Sahambangung of Sarawet, Indonesia, transitioned from receiving government assistance to leading Rhizopora, a women’s group focused on mangrove restoration and economic empowerment.
In 2022, Sahambangung joined a training program and co-founded Rhizopora with nine other women, supported by Yayasan Bumi Tangguh and CARE Indonesia. The group now collects mangrove seedlings, monitors coastlines, and plants new mangroves, reviving forests that support local fisheries.
Rhizopora members generate income by selling mangrove seedlings to businesses like Alfamidi, BPJS Kesehatan, and PLN, as well as by harvesting and selling mud crabs. They also operate a savings-and-loans program, helping members achieve financial stability, one single mother used the program to buy a house and start a cake business. The group planted 30,000 mangrove trees during an eight-month restoration project this year.
Sahambangung recently shared Rhizopora’s story at an international forum in Australia, highlighting the group’s success in linking environmental conservation with improved livelihoods. Local fishers report increased catches, and the community is more invested in protecting the mangroves, demonstrating a positive impact on both the environment and the local economy. Rhizopora continues to seek ways to expand its income-generating activities, currently developing a soap made from mangrove materials.
