TWA Angke Kapuk and Jiva Catalyst Foundation Celebrate World Mangrove Day Through Festival Sahabat Mangrove 2026
Written by: Bunga El Najma Sofiana
Jakarta, 26 July 2026 – Taman Wisata Alam (TWA) Angke Kapuk, also known as Jakarta Mangrove, managed by PT Murindra Karyalestari together with the Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) Jakarta, held Festival Sahabat Mangrove 2026 on Sunday, 26 July 2026, from 08:00 to 18:00 WIB, at TWA Angke Kapuk, Pantai Indah Kapuk, North Jakarta. The event was organized in collaboration with Jiva Catalyst Foundation, supported by community partners including Trash Ranger Indonesia, and drew more than 2,000 visitors from various backgrounds.
Over 29 years of managing TWA Angke Kapuk, PT Murindra Karyalestari and BKSDA Jakarta have gradually rehabilitated an area of approximately 99.82 hectares that was once an illegal fish pond. From around 9 hectares previously, mangrove cover has now grown to roughly 65 hectares of healthy forest, once again home to wildlife such as sea eagles. Festival Sahabat Mangrove 2026 marked this achievement and invited more people to help protect the coastal ecosystem.
The event officially opened with an Opening Ceremony, marked by remarks from Ir. Ken Savitri Ambarsari, MBA, President Director of Taman Wisata Alam Angke Kapuk (Jakarta Mangrove Resort). In her remarks, she expressed appreciation for the public’s enthusiasm for supporting the conservation of Jakarta’s mangrove ecosystem.
The program continued with a Wildlife Photography exhibition featuring Ezron Tarigan, a wildlife filmmaker and nature photographer, showcasing a series of visual works depicting the rich wildlife of the mangrove area.
Further enriching the festival, hands-on learning and active community engagement were at the core of the activities. A total of 100+ workshop participants gathered to learn skills across Eco Print, Pottery, and Rattan Weaving workshops. In addition, the event saw remarkable community mobilization driven by Jiva Catalyst, bringing in over 500 participants from Jiva Catalyst to actively support and take part in the festival’s conservation mission.
The festival also featured the “Roots of Change: The Role of Communities in Protecting Mangroves for a Better Climate Future” Talk Show, featuring Maya Lynn BC, LL.M, MBA, Founder of Jiva Catalyst Foundation; Putri Melta Sari, Co-Founder of Trash Ranger Indonesia; and Fitra Gautama, representing the management of TWA Angke Kapuk.
“Mangroves are a natural protector of the coastal environment. Beyond holding back abrasion, they also act as a natural filter that helps reduce waste from reaching the sea,” said Fitrah, representing the management of TWA Angke Kapuk.
During the same session, Maya highlighted the importance of active community involvement in mangrove conservation.
“Communities are the ones who interact directly with the mangrove ecosystem. That’s why we hope more people will get actively involved through community groups in mangrove conservation efforts,” Maya said.
Echoing this, Putri Melta Sari shared Trash Ranger Indonesia’s experience supporting mangrove planting activities in several regions.
“Through mangrove planting activities, more people are coming to understand that mangroves bring major benefits, both for the environment and for the lives of coastal communities,” said Melta.
Following the talk show, visitors took part in a community clean-up and a Mangrove Tour to see the conservation area firsthand. As the ISHOMA break began, the afternoon was livened up by a performance from Lahila Band.
The program continued with the “Jaga Mangrove, Kelola Sampah” (Protecting Mangroves, Managing Waste) seminar, featuring content creator Jerhemy Owen alongside several environmental advocates: Yulinar Fitriani, Ir. Ken Savitri Ambarsari, MBA, Happy Putro Wibowo, and Prof. Dr. Dewi Elfidasari, S.Si., M.Si., Professor at the Faculty of Science and Technology of Universitas Al Azhar Indonesia and a wildlife conservation researcher. During the seminar, Jerhemy Owen encouraged young people to make eco-friendly living a new habit.
“A simple example: right now, sports trends like running and padel are booming. Over time, a trend can turn into a lifestyle, even a daily habit. That’s exactly what we need to do with a green lifestyle, turning it into a new habit for society,” Jerhemy said.
The program continued with mangrove planting, joined by guests and visitors. The highlight of the conservation action was the mangrove seedling planting session joined by guests and festival visitors. Demonstrating strong corporate and community commitment to reforestation, a total of 444 mangrove seedlings were successfully contributed for planting, consisting of 300 seedlings donated by BNI Life and 144 seedlings donated directly by Jiva participants through the seedling donation initiative.
The festival closed with special live music performances by Kaka Slank and 57Kustik, entertaining visitors into the evening. Beyond the main program, visitors could also take part in a Mangrove Seedling Donation through the Hangtag Campaign, Sustainability Booths, an UMKM Bazaar, and a Mangrove BioBlitz, as well as feeding capybaras with CAPYCA, all running throughout the day.
Through Festival Sahabat Mangrove 2026, TWA Angke Kapuk, Jiva Catalyst Foundation, and Trash Ranger Indonesia, together with all partners, hope this collaboration will continue, strengthening public awareness and sustaining the mangrove ecosystem as one of Jakarta’s most important conservation areas.
About Jiva Catalyst Foundation
Jiva Catalyst Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to creating meaningful impact through three interconnected pillars: Education, Environment, and Social Impact.
Through environmental initiatives, sustainability programs, educational activities, youth empowerment, and community engagement, the Foundation seeks to inspire individuals and communities to become catalysts for positive change. By fostering collaboration, innovation, and inclusive participation, Jiva Catalyst Foundation works toward building a more sustainable, equitable, and resilient future for both people and the planet.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Email: jiva.catalyst@gmail.com
Instagram: @jiva.catalyst
Address: Equity Tower, 26th Floor, Jl. Jenderal Sudirman, Senayan, South Jakarta 12190
Editor by: Nurlaila