It is one of Indonesia’s most vital coastal ecosystems. A dense network of mangroves, rivers and islands where human life and nature have long been intertwined. Weda Bay, on Halmahera Island in the North Maluku province, stretches between flat lowlands and steep headlands, opening into the deep Halmahera Sea which drops to depths of more than 1,700 meters.
Freshwater rivers such as Way Obus and Matuting Tanjung feed the mangrove forests, sustaining a complex habitat of 17 species, including the Nipa palm.1 The dominant trees form towering green walls that hold the fragile coastline together. Their roots trap sediment, nurture fish nurseries and provide natural barriers against flooding and erosion. Beyond the mangrove belt, the land gives way to groves of Sago palm, a crop deeply woven into the cultural and food traditions of Maluku’s lowland peoples.
