Indonesian Teen Wins Eco-Hero Award for Planting Mangroves and Creating Sustainable Products

Fourteen-year-old Harley Sunoto was named the 2026 Eco-Hero after his Mangrove Warrior project planted over 31,000 mangrove seedlings and helped local women produce eco-friendly goods.

Facing the loss of an estimated 12.5 million hectares of forest in Indonesia, 14-year-old Harley Fatahillah Yodhaloka Sunoto founded Mangrove Warrior to combat coastal erosion and protect low-income fishing communities. Over the past year the group has established a nursery, cultivated more than 31,000 mangrove seedlings and planted them in vulnerable shorelines of Wonorejo, Gunung Anyar and Keputih, carefully selecting species like Rhizophora mucronata and Avicennia marina for optimal soil conditions.

Backed by his school, SMP Negeri 1 Surabaya, the project targets 65,000 seedlings by the end of 2026 and hopes to scale further. In parallel, Harley collaborates with local mothers, under the guidance of Kalpataru Award-winning activist Ibu Lulut Sri Yuliani, to create value-added products—mangrove syrup, soy sauce, natural shampoos, charcoal briquettes and batik dyed with mangrove extracts—turning conservation into livelihood opportunities.

Support from Tunas Hijau Indonesia and Wahana Visi Indonesia aids post-planting monitoring, while his inventions like the Eco Geniuz Pillow and a prototype robot for autistic children showcase his broader commitment to environmental education and technology. His efforts have mobilised over 300 volunteers, educated more than 500 students and attracted national media attention, underscoring the potential of local action to address global climate challenges.