Ronaldo, nicknamed CR7, came to the resort island as an ambassador for the Mangrove Care Forum Bali.
“It’s great to see him again. He looks the same. I wish him the best,” the Portuguese soccer celebrity said about Martunis.
The Acehnese, now 15, was dragged out to sea and swept into a mangrove swamp. Wearing a red and green Portuguese soccer jersey with Ronaldo’s name on it, Martunis survived on puddle water and dried noodles and was rescued 19 days later and reunited with his father and grandfather.
His story attracted European media attention. In 2008, Ronaldo visited him in Aceh in 2008 and financed his education.
“I am privileged to be able to play a role in conserving mangroves in Indonesia. I was in Aceh after the 2004 tsunami and the devastation I saw left a deep impression. I understand that in places where there were mangroves to provide a natural buffer against high waves, more lives were saved and less damage sustained,” Ronaldo said.
“I’m not paid [for being an ambassador]. I am doing this because I like to help the people, the children, the Earth and I think it’s great.”
The Real Madrid star said he was honored to return to Indonesia on this environmental mission.
Ronaldo joined in with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to plant mangroves at Telaga Waja, Benoa Bay. The area is part of the 1,373-hectare Ngurah Rai People’s Forest Park, the largest mangrove forest in Bali and an area that suffers from severe pollution, deforestation and littering.
The forum is expected to involve local communities in the clean up and creation of a safe environment for plants and marine life.
Data from the Forestry Ministry’s Unda Anyar river flow management showed around 253 hectares of the forest was damaged, largely due to land conversion and pollution.
Driven by concern over the alarming condition of the mangrove forest, community empowerment agencies and village chiefs for Tanjung Benoa, Benoa Jimbaran, Tuban and Kedonganan established the forum in April, with support from the Artha Graha Peduli Foundation.
Members of the forum are responsible for maintenance, preservation, planting, rehabilitation of degraded land and mangrove development, as well as holding social activities and community empowerment.
“We have learned much from our 16 years conserving Tambling’s mangroves [in South Bukit Barisan National Park in Lampung]. With the same passion and commitment, we aim to save the mangrove forest in Benoa Bay,” foundation founder Tomy Winata said, adding that protecting mangroves would also protect the livelihood of many villagers.
On the sidelines of the event, Yudhoyono received a jersey which was emblazoned with “SBY” and Ronaldo’s favorite number “7” and signed by the player. First Lady Ani Yudhoyono also received a jersey emblazoned with name “Ani” and signed by Ronaldo.
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