Komodo National Park planted 250 mangroves at Kampung Kerora in 2020

Labuan Bajo — Komodo National Park staff and community members in Kampung Kerora on Rinca Island planted 250 mangrove seedlings on 26–27 February 2020 as part of efforts to mitigate coastal erosion and climate risks, according to Indonesia’s Directorate General of Conservation of Natural Resources and Ecosystems (KSDAE). The agency framed the activity as ecosystem restoration intended to slow shoreline abrasion linked to rising sea levels over the long term.

The planting took place along the white-sand coastline of Kampung Kerora in Pasir Panjang village, within Komodo National Park in East Nusa Tenggara. KSDAE highlighted the area’s ecological value for Komodo dragons and its role in supporting local livelihoods.

KSDAE reported that staff from the Komodo National Park management unit at the Rinca Island section worked with members of the Kampung Kerora Masyarakat Mitra Polhut (forest ranger partner community) group. Community members helped collect and plant the seedlings, which were identified as Rhizophora sp., a mangrove genus native to coastal habitats in the park.

What the 2020 project included

According to KSDAE, the planting was carried out over two days and was explicitly aimed at helping to slow coastal erosion as part of climate change mitigation. The agency noted that mangrove restoration in the Kampung Kerora resort area was expected to reduce the impact of sea-level rise on the shoreline in the long term.

KSDAE stated that maintenance and monitoring of the newly planted mangroves would be carried out by staff at the Kampung Kerora resort, who are responsible for conservation activities along this stretch of coast. The report did not specify the total area planted or provide projections on survival rates for the seedlings.

Key figures and details from the official account include:

• Seedlings planted: 250
• Species: Rhizophora sp.
• Planting dates: 26–27 February 2020
• Location: Kampung Kerora, Rinca Island, within Komodo National Park
• Maintenance: Ongoing monitoring and care assigned to Kampung Kerora resort staff

The Kampung Kerora resort has broader responsibilities for coastal and marine conservation in the eastern part of Rinca Island and nearby small islands, including monitoring sea turtle nesting sites and protecting habitats for yellow-crested cockatoos and other wildlife. The mangrove planting forms part of this wider effort to maintain coastal ecosystems and reduce human and climate-related pressures.

Tourism and conservation links

Recent initiatives have begun to position Kampung Kerora as an ecotourism destination that combines trekking, wildlife viewing and turtle conservation with benefits for local residents. In March 2025, the park authority opened a new trekking route in Kampung Kerora as part of efforts to diversify tourism offerings inside the national park.

A separate lifestyle report described the launch of ecotourism in Kampung Kerora on 6 March 2025 as an alternative destination within the park, focused on guided village walks, observation of Komodo dragons and other fauna, and the planned release of turtle hatchlings as part of conservation-oriented visitor packages.

The ecotourism programme is intended to support the local economy, create employment through community-based guiding, and integrate sea turtle protection into tourism activities, according to park officials quoted in national media. Visitors are offered trekking packages with local guides from community tourism groups, and ticket purchases can be made through the park’s online booking system, according to those reports.

Both the 2020 mangrove planting and the later ecotourism initiative share a focus on coastal conservation in and around Kampung Kerora. KSDAE documents and media accounts link the area’s tourism potential to its natural landscapes, Komodo habitat and nearby turtle nesting sites. However, available official and media reports do not state that the 250 mangroves planted in February 2020 are included as a specific attraction in the ecotourism itinerary or that visitor fees are earmarked directly for mangrove maintenance.

Context

The February 2020 planting took place as conservation managers were warning about climate-related risks and coastal degradation in parts of Komodo National Park. KSDAE characterised mangrove restoration at Kampung Kerora as an ecosystem recovery measure designed to protect the shoreline from erosion and support the resilience of the settlement and surrounding habitats.

Subsequent KSDAE publications and partner-agency reports have highlighted Kampung Kerora and the wider Dusun Kerora area as a priority site for community-based ecotourism that supports conservation, including turtle monitoring and potential coral planting activities. These initiatives build on the resort’s existing role in safeguarding coastal and marine ecosystems, but current sources do not explicitly link the 2020 mangrove plot to specific tourism products or revenue streams.

Sources

• KSDAE – Penanaman Mangrove Di Kampung Kerora Pulau Rinca
• Tempo – Ekowisata Kampung Kerora di Pulau Rinca jadi Alternatif Destinasi Taman Nasional Komodo
• BPOLBF – Wujudkan Desa Wisata Berkualitas di Kawasan TN Komodo, BPTNK dan BPOLBF Tinjau Dusun Kerora
• KSDAE – Bagaimana Ekowisata Resort Kerora di Pulau Rinca Mendukung Konservasi, Ekonomi Masyarakat, dan Pengembangan Layanan BLU Taman Nasional Komodo?
• Labuan Bajo Terkini – TN Komodo Catat 432 Ribu Kunjungan 2025, PNBP Capai Rp100 Miliar; Mulai 2026 Dibatasi 1000 Orang/Hari