Indonesia Plans Giant Sea Wall and Mangrove Combo to Fight Rising Seas

JAKARTA – Indonesia will combine a giant sea wall with mangrove restoration to protect its coastline, the country’s coordinating minister for infrastructure and regional development said. Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono, known as AHY, announced the plan on Saturday. The project aims to defend low-lying areas from flooding and erosion caused by rising sea levels. The giant sea wall will act as a physical barrier against ocean waves. Meanwhile, replanting mangroves will help absorb wave energy and stabilize soil. Mangroves are coastal trees with dense root systems that trap sediment and reduce erosion. The minister did not provide a timeline or budget for the project. He said further studies are needed to determine the wall’s exact route and design. Indonesia, an archipelago of more than 17,000 islands, is one of the world’s most vulnerable nations to climate change. Rising waters already threaten major cities like Jakarta, which is sinking due to groundwater extraction.