Indonesia's mangroves account for 20.37% of the global total, with a significant portion in dense condition.

Based on the National Mangrove Map officially released by the Ministry of Environment and Forestry in 2021, the total area of Indonesia's mangrove ecosystem reaches 3,364,076 hectares, or 20.37% of the world's total mangrove area.

Of Indonesia's total mangrove area of 3,364,076 hectares, 3,121,239 hectares (92.78%) are dense mangroves, 188,363 hectares (5.60%) are moderately dense mangroves, and 54,474 hectares (1.62%) are sparse mangroves. The government's focus in mangrove rehabilitation is on areas with sparse mangrove cover. The roles in rehabilitating sparse mangrove areas are carried out according to the duties, main tasks, and functions of the relevant Ministries/Institutions.

According to SNI 7717-2020, dense mangroves have a canopy cover >70%, moderately dense mangroves have a canopy cover of 30-70%, and sparse mangroves have a canopy cover <30%.

The highest density of dense mangroves in Indonesia is in Papua Province, with a total area of 1,084,514 hectares, while the lowest density is in Yogyakarta Special Region Province with only 8 hectares. The highest density of moderately dense mangroves is in North Kalimantan Province with 41,615 hectares, and the lowest density is in Yogyakarta Special Region Province with only 3 hectares.

The highest density of sparse mangroves is in North Sumatra Province with 8,877 hectares, and the lowest density is in Bali Province with 75 hectares.

Mangrove forests have significant functions for human life. Quoting from dlhk.bantenprov.go.id, some of the functions of mangrove forests are as follows:

1. They can withstand ocean currents that can erode coastal land.
2. They absorb carbon dioxide and produce oxygen.
3. They provide a habitat for marine life, such as small fish, for shelter and foraging.

(read: [link to article about conservation areas])