'Coral reefs deteriorate from natural causes'<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The quality of coral reefs around the Seribu
\nIslands in North Jakarta has deteriorated due to natural causes
\nand not because of pollution, an expert said.<\/p>\n
Dr. T.M. Williams, a geochemist from the British Geological
\nSurvey, said yesterday there was no sufficient evidence to
\nconclude that the damage was caused by pollution.<\/p>\n
"Based on a research study conducted by the University of
\nNewcastle, U.K. around 1990, the damage was due to natural causes
\nsuch as climate," Williams said.<\/p>\n
He said, however, it was difficult to determine the exact
\ncause of the damage, although it seems that natural causes --
\nsuch as a change in water temperature -- have destroyed the
\nreefs.<\/p>\n
Last year, experts from Australia, Papua New Guinea, the U.S
\nand Cambodia said that garbage dumped by Jakartans had polluted
\nJakarta Bay and destroyed coral reefs around the Seribu Islands.<\/p>\n
The research conducted by the experts was funded by the United
\nNations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. It was
\ndiscovered that only 5 percent of the coral reefs were still in
\ngood condition, compared to 90 percent 10 years ago.<\/p>\n
Williams said another factor which made it difficult to
\ndetermine the cause was a lack of data. He said the latest data
\non coral reefs or other marine biota in Jakarta Bay and around
\nthe Seribu Islands was outdated.<\/p>\n
"The research was conducted about 10 years ago, and it showed
\nthat the condition of marine biota in Jakarta Bay and the Seribu
\nIslands was quite satisfactory," he said.<\/p>\n
Williams said that for this reason, the United Kingdom
\nDevelopment Administration is conducting a land-ocean
\ncontamination study in Jakarta Bay and around the Seribu Islands.<\/p>\n
He said the research, which began in June this year, is aimed
\nat constructing a detailed picture of the sources, transport
\npathway and ecological impacts of contaminants entering the
\nwaters of Jakarta Bay.<\/p>\n
"Then we can form quantitative data on marine biota, as well
\nas form a standard pollution monitoring system," he said.<\/p>\n
The research is also being conducted in Mexico, Brazil and
\nEast Africa. In Jakarta, it is conducted in cooperation with the
\nNational Institute of Sciences.<\/p>\n
Dedy Setiapermana, a researcher at the institute, said that
\nall data collected will be stored in a computer data base and can
\nbe used to form an environmental management system in the future.<\/p>\n
He said the research also aimed at identifying the existing
\nconflict between coastal-zone pollution and social economic
\nactivities to form programs to protect the marine biota in the
\narea.<\/p>\n
Williams said the researchers have completed collecting
\nsamples, such as water, from 60 locations in the Seribu Islands
\nand Jakarta Bay. (yns)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/coral-reefs-deteriorate-from-natural-causes-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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