Indonesian Women Lead Mangrove Restoration and Boost Local Livelihoods in North Sulawesi

In Sarawet, a coastal village in North Sulawesi, 45‑year‑old fisher Wisye Sahambangung founded Rhizopora in 2022 to combine mangrove conservation with women’s economic empowerment. The group harvests propagules, plants seedlings, monitors coastal zones, and trains villagers in mangrove planting. Over an eight‑month project this year, Rhizopora, working with NGOs Yayasan Bumi Tangguh and CARE Indonesia, planted 30,000 mangrove trees. Members sell seedlings, harvest mud crabs, and run savings‑and‑loans schemes, increasing household incomes. Wisye’s leadership has raised Sarawet’s profile nationally and internationally, culminating in her speaking at Women Deliver 2026 in Melbourne. The initiative protects the mangrove ecosystem that supports the village’s fish and crab fisheries, securing both environmental and economic resilience.