G20 state guests plant mangroves as symbol of climate cooperation

Denpasar, The Gulf Observer: Several state guests attending the G20 Summit in Bali planted mangroves at Tahura Ngurah Rai, Denpasar, Bali, on Wednesday as a symbol of cooperation among G20 countries on tackling the effects of climate change.

The activity, which was held as a side event of the summit, took place at an elliptical site near a wooden bridge, which stands between the pavilion and the Ngurah Rai mangrove forest.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo led the mangrove planting activity at the Ngurah Rai Grand Forest Park (Tahura), flanked by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his right and European Commission President Ursula Gertrud von der Leyen on his left. Meanwhile, United States President Joe Biden stood to PM Modi’s right.

Standing in front of other state guests, they removed mangrove seedlings from polybags, put them in the holes dug for them, and heaped soil around them using hoes.

Some state leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, and von der Leyen, planted the mangrove seedlings quickly, while other state guests took longer.

After planting the mangroves, the state guests took a tour of the mangrove forest. President Widodo walked side by side with United States President Joe Biden in front, ahead of the guide.

While walking on a track through the mangrove forest, Widodo informed Biden about the various climate actions that Indonesia has taken, including the rehabilitation of the Ngurah Rai Grand Forest Park, which spans more than 1,300 hectares.

The tour guide told the state guests that the rehabilitation was aimed at restoring the functions of mangrove forests, which include storing carbon, supporting living things and the surrounding ecosystem, and maintaining the balance of nature and coastal areas, considering that mangroves can prevent abrasion.

After their forest stroll, the state guests arrived in an open area where mangrove seedlings that were ready for planting were stored. Widodo visited the planting area several times to show the state guests ready-to-plant mangrove seedlings. He was also seen informing them about the several types of mangrove plants in Ngurah Rai Tahura.

Biden, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Kristalina Georgieva, and French President Emmanuel Macron were seen chatting while participating in activities at Ngurah Rai Tahura.

From the open area for storing seedlings, the heads of delegations continued on foot to the mangrove nursery center. The trip ended after the state guests walked along the Muara Nusa Dua Reservoir in the Tahura Ngurah Rai area.

At the final location, the state guests were seen chatting with each other, while Macron thanked the tour guide and took a photo with him before leaving.

Meanwhile, Biden left the location in his armored presidential car, “The Beast,” shortly after the event ended.

Several other guests such as World Bank president David Malpass and IMF’s Georgieva did not leave the location immediately. They returned to the pavilion area to enjoy food and drinks.