Serious Threats Facing Mangrove and Coastal Ecosystems on Pari Island, Indonesia

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - One of the clusters in Indonesia's Thousand Islands, Pari Island, is now under serious scrutiny due to the activities of PT Central Pondok Sejahtera (CPS) suspected of damaging the mangrove and coastal ecosystem in the area.

The use of excavators to dredge sand in the shallow waters of Pari Island has raised concerns among the local community as it has the potential to damage seagrass beds, mangroves, and coral reefs in the cluster region.

Reclamation and Environmental Damage

PT CPS obtained the Approval for the Utilization of Marine Space (Persetujuan Kesesuaian Kegiatan Pemanfaatan Ruang Laut or PKKPRL) from the head of the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM), who is currently serving as the Minister of Investment and Industrial Estates, to build a floating villa tourism facility on a 180-hectare land around Pari Island.

However, since November 2024, the local residents have opposed the activities of PT CPS, as they have been conducting dredging, reclamation, and environmental damage, particularly to the mangrove plants. The residents are concerned that these activities will damage the coastal ecosystem, including seagrass beds, mangroves, and coral reefs in the waters of Pari Island.

Residents of Pulau Pari's Lawsuit to PTUN

In response to this damage, the residents of Pari Island have filed an environmental lawsuit to the State Administrative Court (PTUN) in Jakarta against one of the PKKPRLs issued by the government. They are concerned that the tourism project carried out by the company based on this permit will damage the coastal ecosystem of Pari Island.

Legal counsel from the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute (LBH), Khaerul Anwar, explained that this lawsuit aims to annul the relevant PKKPRL.

"We filed this lawsuit as an effort by the residents of Pulau Pari to annul an STA (State Administrative Decision) in the form of a PKKPRL issued by the Minister of Investment and Industrial Estates in the Cluster Region, Pari Island, Thousand Islands," he said in a press release on Friday, June 13, 2025.

Atik Sukamti, a resident of Pari Island involved in the lawsuit, stated that this PKKPRL would burden the local community, the majority of whom work as fishermen. She emphasized that mangroves are crucial for mitigating coastal erosion caused by the sea waves.

The Reclamation Polemic from PT CPS

Prior to this, the activities of PT CPS on Pari Island faced significant opposition from the local community. The surrounding residents were shocked by the discovery of damaged mangrove plants due to the construction project of a private company's tourist lodges.

The Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) found indications of mangrove damage and illegal reclamation in this project. The Minister's Special Staff, Doni Ismanto Darwin, explained that this finding came from a field survey by the Directorate General of Marine and Coastal Resources Management (Ditjen PKRL) of the KKP.

Since November 2024, the residents of Pari Island have complained about mangrove damage and coastal infilling. They have even obstructed heavy machinery used by the company to clear the mangroves. PT CPS, which is building tourist lodges on Biawak Island, was reported to have damaged thousands of mangrove trees. The Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, Sakti Wahyu Trenggono, stated that PT CPS is suspected of carrying out reclamation without permission in an area intended for the construction of floating cottages and tourist piers.

The KKP inspection results showed dredging using heavy machinery on Pari Island, allegedly carried out by PT CPS within the KKPRL area. Trenggono also emphasized that the development of tourist lodges by PT CPS violates Law Number 27 of 2007 concerning the Management of Coastal Areas and Small Islands, which requires permits for any marine space utilization activities lasting more than 30 days.

The Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLH) has halted the construction activities on Biawak Island after receiving reports of the felling of tens of thousands of mangrove trees. The Deputy for Environmental Law Enforcement of KLH, Rizal Irawan, stated that they would further investigate after receiving reports from residents about the damage to coral reefs and seagrass beds.

Furthermore, the Minister of Environment and Forestry, Hanif Faisol Nurofiq, along with Rizal Irawan and the Deputy for Pollution Control and Environmental Damage had previously met with the community. During the meeting, residents reported that the activities of PT CPS on January 17 had damaged 40,000 mangrove trees planted by the community and visitors to Pari Island, and destroyed 62 square meters of coral reef and seagrass bed ecosystems.

Voice of Complaint from the Residents of Pari Island

Moreover, Atik also rejects the construction of floating inns currently being carried out by PT CPS on Pari Island.

"If the floating villas are built in that area, it will disrupt the local economy as the inns owned by the surrounding residents will compete with the floating villas," said Atik.

Susan Herawati from the People's Coalition for Fisheries Justice (KIARA) stated that the planned area for the development of a floating village and tourist pier is a region collectively managed by the residents of Pari Island.

"The activities of building floating cottages and tourist piers by reclamation is clearly prohibited as it will damage the coral reefs and mangroves," said Susan.

Legal counsel from the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi) Jakarta Ahmad Syahroni, stated that the issuance of this PKKPRL has directly harmed the residents of Pari Island. "The fact is, during the construction activities carried out by PT CPS, many residents, especially fishermen, lost their fishing grounds," he said.

Nabiila Azzahra contributed to the writing of this article.

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