February 2025 The GSMA is a global organisation unifyingthe mobile ecosystem to discover, developand deliver innovation foundational topositive business environments and societalchange. Our vision is to unlock the full powerof connectivity so that people, industry, andsociety thrive. Representing mobile operatorsand organisations across the mobile ecosystemand adjacent industries, the GSMA deliversfor its members across three broad pillars:Connectivity for Good, Industry Servicesand Solutions, and Outreach. This activityincludes advancing policy, tackling today'sbiggest societal challenges, underpinning thetechnology and interoperability that makemobile work, and providing the world's largestplatform to convene the mobile ecosystem at theMWC and M360 series of events. We invite you to find out more atgsma.com Follow the GSMA on Twitter/X:@GSMA Background4The challenge6The digital solution8The results11Making it impactful13Looking to the future16 Background The GSMA is committed to fostering a sustainableand inclusive digital transformation that improvesthe livelihoods of people and the sustainability ofour planet worldwide. Indonesia, an island nationwith a carbon-intensive economy, is alreadyexperiencing the adverse effects of climate change.The GSMA and the Indonesian government haverolled out several projects as part of Indonesia’scommitment to strengthen its ability to adapt andbecome more resilient to climate change. In 2023, the GSMA and mobile operator IndosatOoredoo Hutchison (IOH) partnered to rollout aproject, focusing on innovative digital solutionsto reduce the destruction of mangroves incollaboration with the North Kalimantancommunity. The primary objective of thisproject is to develop and map the geographicfeatures of the sea and coastal areas aroundSetabu Village and its affected areas to enablevillage governments to take action to minimiseenvironmental damage and raise the level ofdigital and climate awareness for the localpopulation. The Indonesian government has identified NorthKalimantan as a priority location for mangroveconservation and restoration under theMangroves for Coastal Resilience Programme.1Setabu Village, located in North Kalimantan’sKayan Sembakung Delta, is well known forits mangrove forest and endemic IndonesianBekantan (Proboscis monkey) habitat. Theforest, rich in natural biodiversity and home to adiverse range of tree species, serves as a majorattraction for tourism in Setabu Village. It is alsoa source of livelihood for seaweed and shrimpfarmers. However, recent shifts in livelihoodpatterns pose a threat to the ecosystem. The challenge Mangroves play a vital role in supporting theenvironment and the coastal communities thatsurround them. They provide clean water, improveair quality, preserve biodiversity, and are criticalto mitigating climate change by reducing globalwarming impacts. However, in Kayan SembakungDelta, North Kalimantan, the livelihood practicesof local communities, particularly shrimp farming2and seaweed cultivation,3pose significant threatsto local mangrove forests. These activities led to extensive mangrovedeforestation, exacerbating ecosystem breakdownand threatening mangrove survival. At the start ofthe project, 54% of the village’s mangroves wereclassified as degraded.6Unchecked exploitation ofmangroves—including the creation of river pathwaysfor fishing boats and drying areas for seaweed—further disrupted the delicate ecological balance. The lack of knowledge about sustainable landuse and absence of village regulations deepenedconflicts among community members over resourceallocation. For example, disputes frequently arosebetween seaweed cultivators and fish nettersover damaged foundations and unregulatedmarine space usage, including extensive cuttingof mangroves to reach the ocean. These tensionsunderscored the need for a structured approach tomanaging shared resources. In 2022, Nunukan Municipality, located withinthe Kayan Sembakung Delta, lost 80 hectares ofmangroves through unlawful land conversion.4Inthe same region, Setabu Village has experiencedsignificant mangrove loss due to large-scaleseaweed farming. Meanwhile, the district’sseaweed production has grown to an estimated7,000 tonnes per month, generating around sevenbillion rupiah (£350,000) in revenue for seaweedfarmers.5This has fostered tensions around landuse and mangrove conservation among differentfactions within the local community. Local officials had previously initiated meetingsand discussions with key stakeholders, includingcommunity leaders, traditional figures,7youthrepresentatives, seaweed farmers, fisheriesextension officers, and security personnel.These collaborative discussions aimed toresolve conflicts and ensure equitable resourcemanagement. However, these discussions did nothave an evidence base to guide decision-makingand agreement, and land use decisions weretherefore not enforced. In Setabu Village, the high value of seaweed hasattracted both locals an