Casuarinas can protect our coasts fron tsunamis<\/p>\n
Suhardi, Yogyakarta<\/p>\n
Sukristijono Sukardjo was correct when he wrote in his article
\npublished in The Jakarta Post of April 28, that planting
\nmangroves and casuarinas (Casuarinas equisetifolia) can prevent
\ndamage to coastal areas and help absorb the power and damage of a
\ntsunami.<\/p>\n
Research that this writer and a team from Gadjah Mada
\nUniversity (UGM) once conducted in the southern coastal area of
\nYogyakarta showed that casuarinas, locally known as cemara udang
\nwere more suitable, particularly for open and sandy coastal
\nareas, than mangroves. Sand areas are the most predominant land
\ntype in the country's close to 110,000 kilometers of coastlines.<\/p>\n
One example of how casuarinas are essential is Lhok Nga beach.
\nThe writer recently visited this area and found that mangroves
\nalone were not suitable for planting because they needed special
\nrequirements to grow, most importantly that the coastal area is
\nmuddy. The best combination of plants for this area would be
\nmangroves and casuarinas.<\/p>\n
For many years, the writer and the UGM team conducted research
\nand planting experiments with casuarinas from Madura, East Java,
\non the beaches of Samas and Pandan Simo in southern Yogyakarta
\nwith impressive results. This was particularly so after planting
\nthis particular species was later undertaken in cooperation with
\nthe Indokor Indonesia Group, a company engaged in developing an
\nintegrated shrimp-farming industry in cooperation with local
\nfarmers in areas around these beaches.<\/p>\n
In 1995, sand areas extending from Samas to Pandan Simo were
\nlargely barren. Sand dunes were always changing and rolling over
\nthemselves, hot gusty winds blew through the area and little or
\nno vegetation grew in a large territory that extended about a
\nkilometer inland from the beach. The power of the strong sea
\nbreeze could be felt up to five kilometers away.<\/p>\n
It was very difficult to grow anything on these sandy spots,
\nwhich were increasing in size, because of their high salt
\ncontent; salt blown up from the sea by the winds. Many attempts
\nhad been made to cultivate the land but to no avail. Agricultural
\nareas continued to be pushed back farther and farther away from
\nthe beach.<\/p>\n
Research and experiments coordinated by Prof. Sutikno of the
\nUGM School of Geography and by this writer discovered that an
\norganic wind-barrier was necessary and that the casuarina from
\nMadura, East Java, were the most suitable species to create such
\na barrier.<\/p>\n
We began, with the villagers and the help of the Indokor
\nIndonesia Group, to plant the species.<\/p>\n
About five years ago, the shape of the coast underwent a
\ndramatic change and the sand began to stop moving. The wind no
\nlonger blew in such a way that it caused the sand to move.<\/p>\n
Cattle began to come closer to the beach and people began to
\nuse the beach areas to expand their agricultural areas.<\/p>\n
Locals began grow shrimp casuarina, which can now be found in
\nthe yards of almost every home bordering Samas Beach. Trees are
\nnow able to grow along the coast making the area less dry and
\nhot.<\/p>\n
While before, the shrimp farms of PT Indokor Bangung Desa and
\nthe farmers' shrimp ponds were often troubled by dusty and sandy
\nwinds and sea water contamination, they are now in much better
\nshape. Vegetables and fruit trees can be grown in the areas
\naround the shrimp farms and better ponds are being developed.<\/p>\n
Earlier Indokor's shrimp farms and those of local farmers
\nthat Indokor helps--involving investments worth tens of billions
\nof rupiah-- were near collapse because all the vegetation in this
\narea had died.<\/p>\n
It is important that efforts to prevent sea water
\ncontamination and damage to ecosystems and the environment are
\ncarried out not only by UGM, by regional administrations and such
\nprivate companies as Indokor but also by the environment
\nministry.<\/p>\n
Damage to the environment is a problem not only on a regional
\nscale but also on a national and sometimes an international
\nlevel. An obvious example is the tsunami disaster that hit Aceh,
\nNorth Sumatra and Nias.<\/p>\n
Casuarinas can now be found stretching continuously from
\nSamas Beach to Pandan Simo Beach, continuing nine kilometers to
\nthe west from the Oya River estuary to that of the Opak River. As
\na result, about 200 ha of land, previously underdeveloped and
\nuseless, has now become productive.<\/p>\n
Cattle breeding has developed rapidly; an important source of
\nnutrients to sandy areas that are poor in organic substances.
\nThose who raise cattle in coastal areas also have the advantage
\nof having to spend less money on chemical fertilizers.<\/p>\n
The increasingly fertile southern coast ends up providing
\nemployment opportunities. Indonesia has a total length of 81,000
\nkm of sandy coastal areas which could be developed.<\/p>\n
Obviously Indonesia's coastal areas have also faced tsunami
\nand storm threats.<\/p>\n
If lines of casuarinas are planted, they can serve as natural
\n\"citadels\" that protect coastal people by acting as buffer zones
\nthat absorb some of the impact of the waves. As well as being an
\nimportant source of food and income, the many animals that begin
\nto flourish in these areas can also act as important warning
\nsystems for possible earthquake and tsunami threats.<\/p>\n
Unusual animal behavior was witnessed before the earthquake
\nand tsunamis that hit Aceh, Sri Lanka and Thailand. Planting
\ncasuarinas and other suitable trees in coastal areas, also means
\nthese animals are protected too.<\/p>\n
Casuarinas and other coastal vegetation can grow alongside
\nmangroves in river estuaries and in calm areas behind islands.
\nShrimp casuarinas can protect previously open beach spaces, spots
\nmost vulnerable to tsunamis.<\/p>\n
Indonesia has a total of 20 million ha of coastal areas and if
\nthese areas are properly managed they could be developed in many
\nways; into agriculture, shrimp farming, fish farming and tourism.<\/p>\n
Once casuarinas become established in coastal areas, other
\nspecies of vegetation, which were earlier unable to grow can
\nflourish.<\/p>\n
Planting casuarinas on coasts would also allow agricultural
\nareas to be expanded without the need for large-scale forest
\ndestruction.<\/p>\n
There are other possibilities. Vegetables and fruit can be
\ngrown, fertilizers can be created from animal dung and shrimps
\ncan be grown in a more efficient and environmentally friendly
\nmanner.<\/p>\n
In this way, the introduction of a combination of coastal
\nspecies in a planned manner can empower local communities and
\nincrease the general welfare of Indonesians.<\/p>\n
The writer, a professor at the UGM School of Forestry, is a
\nformer director-general of soil rehabilitation and social
\nforestry and an expert adviser at the National Food Security
\nCouncil.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/casuarinas-can-protect-our-coasts-fron-tsunamis-1447893297",
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