What I Learned from Planting 10,000 Mangroves

A First-Hand Experience at Baros Beach, Bantul

A Mangrove tree planting | taken by myself

On that bright morning, my feet were already sunk into dark gray mud with a fairly strong sulfuric smell. As I stepped forward, the soles of my feet sensed the many hidden sensations beneath its slippery, soft, and plastic-like texture. I moved slowly, carefully avoiding the sharp edges of broken shells.

“More mangrove seedlings, Muhsin!” Mas Daud called out. “Rope…?! Where’s the rope?!” shouted Mas Wisnu, who had already reached the new planting area. “Take a photo first… take a photo…” voices echoed from different spots.

That was how we spent one of the closing activities of 2025. Together with my friends from the Balancia Care team, I took part in planting 10,000 mangrove seedlings at Baros Beach, Bantul Regency. According to Pak Chandra, the CEO of Balancia, this activity has actually become an annual routine. However, it was suspended in 2024 due to several constraints. He expressed his hope that initiatives like this could continue sustainably — to care for the environment and nature that have given us so much.

That morning, whether I liked it or not, I got up and took a shower right away, choosing not to go back to sleep. We had to gather at 6 a.m. to sign the attendance list. Once everyone arrived, one by one, forming a group of around 25 people, we boarded the company-provided vehicles.

The journey from Yogyakarta City took about an hour. I was truly grateful that the weather was quite clear that morning. You know how much weather can affect a person’s mood — had it been raining, the trip might have been filled with complaints… hehe.

When we arrived at the site, several volunteers from Pemuda Peduli Jogja had already joined the activity. According to my friend, who also serves as a facilitator in that community, the total number of volunteers reached around 80 people from various backgrounds. I genuinely enjoyed this sense of togetherness, especially while engaging in something positive.

Before planting the mangrove seedlings, we were given an educational briefing. Judging by the seedlings provided, the mangrove species appeared to be Avicennia marina (grey mangrove), which is easily recognized by its pneumatophores — upright breathing roots that emerge from the soil. However, there could also have been other species, such as Rhizophora apiculata with its prominent stilt roots, Sonneratia alba with its round green fruit, or Bruguiera gymnorrhiza with spreading breathing roots. Honestly, I am not very knowledgeable about these details; I only know that they are mangrove species typically found in brackish waters.

Bird sounds added to the liveliness of the atmosphere. Early in the morning, the distinct smell of birds was not too strong. There was only the scent of salty water, warm dry air, strong sea winds, and traces of fresh grass. But as the day went on, the tall, mature mangroves revealed themselves to be an open habitat for various bird species, such as mudskippers, fiddler crabs, and egrets. It felt as if we had entered a poultry farm, overwhelmed by the smell of bird droppings.

A habitat of some birds

This was my very first experience participating in a land conservation activity — planting mangrove seedlings along the coast. I felt deeply grateful, as this experience reminded me of the importance of harmony with nature.

That morning of planting mangroves taught me that caring for the environment is not always about possessing great knowledge or special expertise. Sometimes, it simply requires the willingness to step into the mud, to accept unpleasant smells, exhausting heat, and unavoidable discomfort. From there grows an awareness that nature never demands perfection — it only asks for consistent care.

At the end of 2025, I learned that planting mangroves is not merely about planting trees, but about planting responsibility: toward the environment, toward the future, and toward how we understand our existence as human beings who live from and alongside nature.