Flood Not Content, Balancia Encourages Private Companies to Take Real Action

Yogyakarta, 31 December 2025 — In the midst of recurring floods and public debate that often stops at who is to blame, Balancia Ship Agency has chosen to take concrete steps. Through the Balancia Care program, Balancia has carried out mangrove planting on December 30 2025 in the South Coast area of ​​the Special Region of Yogyakarta. The action which was originally planned to plant 2,000 mangroves developed in the field into planting 10,000 mangrovesas a direct response to the increasingly pressing urgency of environmental restoration.

This activity was carried out after the large floods that hit Aceh, North Sumatra and West Sumatra. For Balancia, this series of disasters is a strong signal that damage to the ecosystem from upstream to downstream has been allowed for too long. When forests on land continue to be deforested and natural absorption capacity weakens, the impact spills over into downstream and coastal areas which are now forced to become the last line of defense.

“Initially we planned to plant 2,000 mangroves. However, in implementation, we decided to expand the scale of action to 10,000 mangroves as a form of stronger commitment to environmental restoration efforts. This is not about numbers, but about awareness that the environmental crisis cannot be handled half-heartedly,” said Muhammad Candra Rambe, CEO of Balancia Ship Agency.

Mangrove planting was carried out together with Youth Cares for Yogyakarta as part of efforts to restore the ecosystem which for years has been eroded by land conversion and uncontrolled exploitation. Balancia emphasized that this activity was not intended as a ceremony, but rather as a concrete step showing that decisions to act can be taken without waiting for political momentum or public attention.

As a member of BIMCO and FONASBA, two leading international maritime associations, Balancia places sustainability as part of its industry’s responsibilities. The membership reflects Balancia’s commitment to encouraging sustainable development practices for a more responsible future for the maritime industry.

“We often talk about sustainability, but too rarely translate it into real action. Nature doesn’t need a narrative, it needs to be restored,” stressed Candra.

Mangroves were chosen because of their crucial role in the ecological system. This ecosystem has been proven to be able to withstand abrasion, reduce waves, reduce the risk of flooding, maintain biodiversity, and absorb large amounts of carbon. When damage on land is left unchecked, the coast and mangroves become the last buffer to bear the impact.

Through this action, Balancia openly encourages private companies, especially those operating in the maritime, energy and natural resource-based industries, to take a more visible role.

“It’s not a matter of who speaks loudest about sustainability, but who is truly willing to go to the field and do it. If the plan can turn into an action for 10,000 trees, the commitment should also be realized in reality,” said Candra.

This article also appeared on VRITIMES