Bintan, December 9th, 2024 – Traveloka, Southeast Asia’s leading travel platform, has partnered with CARE Peduli Foundation (CARE Indonesia/YCP) through its Pahlawan Pohon initiative to plant 50,000 mangrove seedlings in the buffer zone of the Marine Conservation Area. This collaboration also includes the formation of Women’s Economic Business Groups (KUEP) to unlock local economic potentials from key local commodities. Set within a 14,000-hectare mangroves forest, this initiative supports Indonesia’s goal of achieving Net Zero Emissions by 2060 and aligns with the government’s vision to reforest over 12 million hectares of degraded forests, fostering a green and blue economy, ensuring food security, enhancing climate resilience, and strengthening community robustness.
The program launch was attended by Secretary of Marine and Fishery Office Riau Islands Province, La Ode M. Faisal; CEO CARE Peduli Foundation, Dr. Abdul Wahib Situmorang; representatives from Traveloka; village officials; and local community leaders.
Caesar Indra, President, Traveloka, stated, “Traveloka’s collaboration with CARE Indonesia underscores our commitment to sustainable tourism through initiatives like Pahlawan Pohon, which focuses on environmental preservation and community empowerment. With 150,000 mangrove trees, already planted or planned across key regions—including Kepulauan Seribu, Central Java, West Nusa Tenggara, Bali Island, and Kepulauan Riau—this initiative is expected to drive significant benefits for environmental sustainability and local economies.”
Secretary of Marine and Fishery Office Riau Islands Province, La Ode M. Faisal welcomed the collaboration, highlighting the importance of protecting the 14,000 hectares of mangroves spread across Bintan Island. “To ensure the conservation areas in Bintan District are effectively utilized, activities like we do today are highly encouraged. The mangrove planting initiative involving the local community is expected to yield greater success, as community support is essential to prevent potential acts of destruction. By engaging the community, we strongly support this effort and hope that the women’s groups and community members involved can participate wholeheartedly and achieve positive outcomes,” he said.
CEO of CARE Peduli Foundation, Dr. Abdul Wahib Situmorang, emphasized the program’s focus on community involvement, particularly the Women Mangrove Warriors, a local women’s group. He explained, “The conservation and sustainable use of mangroves have long been part of the local wisdom of Berakit Village, especially among the sea tribe, who utilize marine products like fish and shellfish to produce various processed foods. Women play a pivotal role in this program—not only through seedling propagation and planting but also in strengthening the local economy through digital literacy, financial education, and producing value-added mangrove-based products.”
Dr. Abdul also elaborated on the formation of the Women’s Economic Business Groups (KUEP), which aim to enhance women’s financial independence and community development. “KUEP serves as a platform for women’s groups to pool savings, access small loans, and engage in collective decision-making. Through entrepreneurship training, we hope these groups can seize broader economic opportunities beyond mangrove conservation and improve their financial independence, while also supporting the growth of a sustainable, environment-based economy,” he concluded.

