Benjamin Brown

I lived and worked in Indonesia for 20 years and am co-founder of Blue Forests (Yayasan Hutan Biru) and Indonesian, non-profit, non-governmental organization. I moved to Darwin, Northern Territory Australia in 2015 and completed my PhD on Mangrove Forest Landscape Restoration Opportunity in Indonesia. I currenty work as a joint postdoctoral research associate with Charles Darwin University - Reseach Institute for Environment and Livelihoods (CDU-RIEL) and The Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS). On behalf of CDU-RIEL, I provide techical support for integrated mangrove management initiatives in Indonesia, currently serving as a short-term consultant for the World Bank as they assist the Government of Indonesia in achieving the nation's large-scale mangrove restoration and sustainable management targets. At AIMS, I will assess the viability of blue carbon financing in remote communities, learning together with traditional owners in the Northern Territory about mangrove and saltmarsh management issues and challenges.