E. Java's mangrove forests in critical condition<\/p>\n
Indra Harsaputra, The Jakarta Post, Surabaya<\/p>\n
Most coastal areas in East Java, similar to tsunami-hit coastal
\nregions in Aceh and North Sumatra, are susceptible to disasters
\nlike tsunami, warns an official.<\/p>\n
Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries' Director General
\nof Coastal Areas and Small Islands Widi Agoes Pratikto said the
\ncondition was mainly due to the damage of mangrove forests along
\nthe coast.<\/p>\n
However, he failed to provide details on the extent of the
\ndamage of East Java's mangrove forests, only saying that
\nnationwide, the degree of destruction had reached 60 percent.<\/p>\n
\"That's why people in East Java should pray that it (a
\ntsunami) won't happen for a second time here, after Aceh,\" said
\nWidi.<\/p>\n
Mangroves serve as a place for small fish to live and breed in
\nsafety from predators. The structure of a forest is simple as it
\nconsists of a line of mangrove trees interspersed with a few
\nother tree species. The kinds of trees generally found are bakau
\n(Rhizobhara sp) and api-api (Avicennia sp).<\/p>\n
Mangroves grow on swampy shores that have calm waters.<\/p>\n
Widi said the Ministry of Forestry had allocated Rp 860
\nbillion (US$95.5 million) for mangrove reforestation across the
\ncountry. The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries will
\nallocate Rp 72 billion for fishermen in Aceh to replant
\nmangroves.<\/p>\n
He said the ministry would also conduct a public awareness
\ncampaign to educate fishermen in coastal areas on the reasons
\nthey should not chop down mangroves. The drive will be conducted
\nby relevant agencies, such as the forestry, fisheries and
\nmaritime agencies in every province.<\/p>\n
The head of the East Java Fisheries and Maritime Affairs
\nOffice's Marine Resource Exploration department, Misran, said
\nthat 11,125.29 hectares out of the total area of 159,322.18
\nhectares of mangrove forests in East Java were in critical
\ncondition.<\/p>\n
The figure is predicted to gradually rise due to a lack of
\npublic awareness to prevent the illegal felling of mangrove
\nforest.<\/p>\n
The worst case is in Sidoarjo, where 10,295.80 out of 26,592.3
\nhectares have been damaged.<\/p>\n
Another 580 hectares of mangrove forest along the Probolinggo
\ncoast have been destroyed in various projects, with 300 hectares
\nallegedly lost to the Paiton power plant project, 280 hectares to
\nextensive expansion of shrimp farms and development of
\nresidential areas in coastal areas.<\/p>\n
In Probolinggo, mangroves stretch for 56 kilometers through
\nseven districts of Tongas, Sumberasih, Dringu, Gending,
\nPajarakan, Krakasan and Paiton.<\/p>\n
Mangrove forests can be found in 47 villages, one of the most
\nseverely effected being in Sumberasih district, where 35 hectares
\nof forest have shrunk to just eight hectares in the last two to
\nthree years.<\/p>\n
Misran blamed the construction of houses, both private and
\ngovernment, for the damaged mangrove forests in East Java.<\/p>\n
In East Java alone, around 57,000 hectares of mangrove forests
\nhave vanished since 2001.<\/p>\n
\"To overcome the problem, the maritime affairs and fisheries
\noffice along with the East Java Forestry Office have replanted
\nmangroves in a number of areas along the coast,\" said Misran.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/e-javas-mangrove-forests-in-critical-condition-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}