Coastal protection
Dense roots hold the soil, slow down waves and storm surges, filter pollutants from river water and keep salt water away from groundwater.
The silent heroes of our coast
On the eastern side of Tanjung Benoa, a green belt of mangroves protects the land from the ocean. We are restoring it, one seedling at a time.
Pudut Island, the land that reappeared
Pudut Island once covered more than 10 hectares. Erosion and dredging reduced it to about one hectare. Since then, the Balaram Mangrove Heroes community and our foundation, working with UPTD Tahura Ngurah Rai, have planted more than 50,000 mangrove seedlings to help the island grow again.
Each seedling is a commitment to a resilient, green coastline, and an opportunity for young people to take care of their environment.
Why mangroves matter
Biodiversity
The tangled roots are a nursery for young fish, shrimps and crabs, and a home for birds, reptiles and even fireflies. Falling leaves feed the base of the marine food web.
Local livelihoods
Healthy mangroves mean more fish for local fishermen, eco-tourism jobs, and products such as mangrove fruit syrups, jams and natural dyes for batik.
Blue carbon
Mangroves lock carbon away in their waterlogged soil, where it can stay for centuries if the forest is left undisturbed.
The 10 mangrove species of Pudut Island
From the pioneers facing the open sea to the trees of the landward edge, each species has its own role.
Rhizophora mucronata
Loop-root mangrove
Its tall, arched stilt roots make it the first line of defence against the open sea.
Rhizophora apiculata
Tall-stilt mangrove
Glossy dark leaves and dense canopies; a key species of protective mangrove belts.
Rhizophora stylosa
Spotted mangrove
A hardy pioneer of the forest edge, where waves and salinity are strongest.
Avicennia lanata
Avicennia
Pencil-like breathing roots rise from the mud like snorkels, and its leaves excrete excess salt.
Avicennia marina
Grey or white mangrove
Often the first tree to colonise new mudflats, it tolerates intense sun, waves and very salty water.
Sonneratia alba
Apple mangrove
A pioneer of the seaward zone whose broad canopy shelters many coastal animals.
Sonneratia caseolaris
Crabapple mangrove
Grows in softer mud along tidal rivers, where fresh water mixes with the sea.
Bruguiera gymnorrhiza
Burma mangrove (putut)
Its knee roots bend in and out of the mud. Its long, cigar-shaped seedlings have long been eaten by coastal communities.
Xylocarpus granatum
Cannonball mangrove
Ribbon-like buttress roots draw patterns on the forest floor, and its fruits are as big as cannonballs.
Ceriops tagal
Spurred mangrove
A slow-growing but very hardy tree of the inner forest that forms dense thickets.
Mangrove tour
Tanjung Benoa is not only about water sports. Board a boat and glide along the waterways beneath the mangrove canopy: a journey to slow down, breathe deeper and reconnect with nature.
Ecoprint workshops
Learn to print fabric or paper using only the leaves and flowers of mangrove plants. A creative way to connect with nature and make an eco-friendly souvenir.
Ask us on WhatsAppPlant a mangrove
Plant seedlings with us during your visit, or sponsor them from home. We grow the seedlings in our nursery, plant them on Pudut Island and look after them.
Frequently asked questions
Another question? Write to us on WhatsApp.
Can I do a mangrove tour in Tanjung Benoa?
Yes. We offer boat tours through the mangrove channels of Pudut Island. Contact us on WhatsApp to book.
Can I plant a mangrove in Bali?
Yes. You can plant seedlings with us during a visit or a group activity, or sponsor mangroves from home on our Adopt & donate page.
Which mangrove species grow on Pudut Island?
Ten species: three Rhizophora, two Avicennia, two Sonneratia, Bruguiera gymnorrhiza, Xylocarpus granatum and Ceriops tagal.
Why is Pudut Island shrinking?
Erosion and dredging have reduced the island from more than 10 hectares to about one hectare. Replanting mangroves helps hold the sand and rebuild the shore.
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