Mangun Last Point Coastal Restoration Hub, Denpasar

Project Story

Raksa Urvi (RU-ACT) prides itself on holistic, youth-led regenerative practices that directly intersect environmental sustainability, public health, and cultural resilience. The money raised in this match-funding campaign will go directly toward scaling the ecological restoration of critical mangrove ecosystems at the Mangun Last Point in Denpasar, Bali. By protecting these coastal zones, we actively safeguard regional biodiversity, intercept marine plastic pollution, and prevent the economic displacement of marginalized indigenous communities. This initiative is entirely locally led and successfully integrates a diverse coalition of over 50 local NGOs, youth volunteers, and traditional stakeholders through every step of the environmental recovery process.

Our Mission

The core philosophy of Raksa Urvi is rooted in the belief that human health and ecological resilience are not separate agendas—they are one justice question. Operating under a distinct "planetary health" lens, our mission is to transform youth climate anxiety into active, measurable, and culturally grounded environmental stewardship. We have established a proven track record of mobilizing mass volunteer networks for climate advocacy. This specific project expands our physical grassroots footprint directly into the fragile intertidal zones of Denpasar. Our ultimate goal is to restore degraded mangrove biomes, establishing a continuous, community-managed ecological defense line that drastically improves local biodiversity while generating green-job opportunities for indigenous families.

Background & Problem Statement

Denpasar and its surrounding coastal areas function as some of the most intensive tourism and urban development hubs in Indonesia. Over the past few decades, rapid and poorly planned coastal infrastructure development, combined with unsustainable commercial zoning, has resulted in severe ecological degradation. This destructive paradigm has severely fragmented Bali’s vital mangrove patches, which serve as the primary nurseries for marine life and the ultimate shield against coastal erosion.

Furthermore, this crisis is compounded by an overwhelming influx of single-use marine plastic debris and toxic microplastics that suffocate mangrove root structures, driving catastrophic public health risks and severe biodiversity loss. For local indigenous fisherfolk, the loss of these ecosystems directly translates to collapsing fish stocks and acute economic displacement. Because local communities often lack the financial capital and technical tools to combat this corporate-driven ecological encroachment, they are left highly vulnerable to the accelerating impacts of the global climate crisis.

Solution

Active coastal ecosystem restoration and citizen science provide the only viable framework to halt and reverse this degradation. Raksa Urvi implements an integrated strategy that addresses both plastic pollution and habitat loss simultaneously. Through our structured "RU-ACT" initiative, we physically clear toxic marine debris from choked intertidal zones and systematically replant native mangrove saplings to restore the natural structural complexity of the coastline. This physical restoration actively rehabilitates the critical benthic and marine habitats necessary for various fish and avian species to return. By treating ecological destruction as an urgent environmental health emergency, our solution directly revitalizes the natural infrastructure that keeps both the ocean and local human communities secure and disease-resilient.

Opportunity

The Mangun Last Point Coastal Restoration Hub is strategically located and easily accessible, presenting an unparalleled opportunity to pioneer innovative "Eco-Artivism" and regenerative community education. Backed by an international grant from the Pace e Bene Nonviolence Center, our project introduces a deeply creative approach to conservation. We mobilize youth and local artisans to upcycle captured single-use plastics directly on-site into monumental cultural sculptures, such as a 3-meter "Bhuta-kala" art installation. This transforms a degraded wasteland into a vibrant public laboratory for experiential science, climate diplomacy, and cultural pride. It serves as an accessible platform where students, tourists, and indigenous community members can directly engage with ecological restoration, bridging the gap between grassroots conservation and public awareness.

How We Regenerate

We engage in an inclusive, cross-sectoral approach to landscape and community regeneration. Our strategy combines modern citizen-science methodologies with time-tested traditional cultural philosophies, such as the Balinese Subak and Tri Hita Karana systems, to resolve resource conflicts and foster collective ownership.

The funding received from this RestorLife round will act as our ultimate breakthrough catalyst to scale these interconnected operations. Specifically, the match funding will be utilized to:

Purchase and cultivate 5,000+ native mangrove saplings and secure professional restoration tools for continuous weekly planting cycles.
Establish a permanent, on-site youth-led monitoring hub and citizen-science lab to track microplastic density and ecosystem recovery.
Provide stable, dignified "green-job" wages for 20+ local indigenous farmers and fisherfolk to manage and guard the newly restored nurseries, effectively merging ecological healing with socio-economic empowerment.

Tracking Impact

This restoration project is executed with strict scientific rigor and structured methodology. In cooperation with regional environmental networks and youth researchers, we are developing a transparent geospatial monitoring system. We leverage the Restor platform to map our intervention coordinates, track canopy cover growth, and publicize our biodiversity assessments.

Beyond digital tracking, our on-the-ground impact is strictly quantified by measurable benchmarks. To date, our broader campaigns have successfully mobilized over 50 local NGOs, engaged 30+ core youth volunteers, involved 20+ indigenous farmers, and reached more than 19,400 constituents through our #MelawanDenganMenanam digital advocacy framework. Moving forward, we will meticulously record quantitative data, including the total weight of plastics removed, the survival rate of planted saplings, and the number of local youth trained in environmental monitoring. Qualitatively, we will continuously document testimonials from local indigenous families to ensure our restoration process directly enhances their socioeconomic well-being and climate resilience.

Our Experience

Raksa Urvi and its leadership team possess extensive, multi-layered experience in environmental mobilization, grassroots action, and high-level international climate diplomacy. Our core coordinators are highly decorated changemakers, recognized globally through prestigious fellowships and platforms including the WWF Indonesia Incubator Programme, the UNESCO Groundwater Youth Network, Green Leadership Indonesia, and the UNFCCC Youth Constituency (YOUNGO).

Our team has successfully executed major environmental campaigns and high-impact visual advocacy. Notably, we coordinated the monumental "We Are Water" upcycled art installation at the 10th World Water Forum, successfully transforming 10,000 single-use plastic sachets into a global advocacy monument to protest marine pollution. Furthermore, our field experience includes executing community-led eco-enzyme applications to restore water quality in degraded lakes, managing international youth summits, and directly drafting youth policy briefs for global climate governance. This unique blend of clinical medical understanding, grassroots operational execution, and secure international backing gives our team the precise expertise, community trust, and dedication required to make this coastal restoration hub an exemplary global model for the RestorLife Awards.