Ibu Oka

Indonesian grassroots environmental activist who led the world's largest community-led mangrove restoration project

Ibu Oka (born 1960) is a pioneering Indonesian environmental activist whose work has transformed coastal ecosystems in Java. Starting in 1999, she mobilized over 10,000 local villagers to plant 17 million mangrove trees along the Cilacap coast, creating the world's largest community-managed mangrove forest spanning 3,000 hectares. This initiative not only restored critical marine ecosystems but also protected communities from coastal erosion and climate impacts.

Her Mangrove Empowerment Network developed innovative agroforestry techniques combining tree planting with sustainable aquaculture. Villagers now earn income through eco-tourism and organic shrimp farming in the mangrove zones. Ibu Oka's approach emphasizes intergenerational education, training children through her 'Mangrove School' program established in 2005. This model has been replicated in 12 other Indonesian provinces and inspired similar projects in Vietnam and Thailand.

A key innovation was her 'Mangrove Credit' system, allowing communities to earn carbon credits through verified tree plantings. This financial mechanism attracted international funding while keeping control in local hands. Despite facing opposition from palm oil companies, she successfully lobbied the Indonesian government to include mangrove protection in its 2014 National Climate Change Strategy. Her TED Talk 'The Mangrove Revolution' has reached over 800,000 viewers, showcasing how grassroots action can combat both ecological and social crises. Ibu Oka's work exemplifies how traditional ecological knowledge combined with modern conservation science can create sustainable solutions.