Along the coast of Cempa Village, Tojo Una-Una District, Central Sulawesi, women are taking an active role in protecting their home, the mangrove ecosystem.

As an initial step, 24 members of the Karang Laut and Vatu Mule’e Women’s Economic Empowerment Groups (KUEP), together with the Regent of Tojo Una-Una, local government, and community members, planted 2,000 mangrove seedlings out of a target of 50,000 seedlings. The mangroves will be maintained and monitored to track their growth. In collaboration with Yayasan CARE Peduli, Karsa Institute, and other partners, local communities, including women, are not only taking the lead in mangrove conservation efforts but are also strengthening their knowledge and capacities to sustain these efforts.