Indonesian women cash in on mangrove restoration: Interview with community leader Wisye Sahambangung

Indonesian fisher, community leader, and mangrove conservationist Wisye Sahambangung, from Sarawet village in North Sulawesi province, has been leading Rhizopora, a women's group since 2022. The group, named after the Rhizophora mangrove genus, focuses on restoring mangroves and creating economic opportunities for women in the village.

Rhizopora collects propagules and seedlings, supports restoration projects, monitors coastal areas, and teaches villagers how to plant mangroves. The group revived the mangrove forest that supports crabs and fish, the primary source of income for the villagers.

In collaboration with NGOs Yayasan Bumi Tangguh and CARE Indonesia, Rhizopora planted 30,000 mangrove trees during an eight-month restoration project this year. Wisye believes protecting mangroves is crucial for safeguarding the community's well-being. The group generates income through selling seedlings, collecting and selling mud crabs, and running savings-and-loans activities.

This involvement of Wisye in Rhizopora has taken her from Sarawet's muddy coastal areas to an international forum in Australia. At a Women Deliver 2026 event in Melbourne, she shared the women's experiences of protecting their coastal environment. "Since Rhizopora was established, Sarawet has become more widely known nationally and internationally," she proudly stated.