Environmentalists striving to conserve nature<\/p>\n
Earlier in October, dozens of environmentalists from Jakarta
\ncarried out nature conservation activities at Muara Angke animal
\nreserve.<\/p>\n
Still young on average, they rehabilitated the area by
\nplanting mangrove trees in conjunction with the 24th anniversary
\nof the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (WAHLI), one of
\nIndonesia's largest environmental organizations.<\/p>\n
About 500 mangrove trees of the pidada species were planted
\nthat morning. Participating in the activity were about 70 people
\nwho comprised Friends of WALHI, WALHI staff members and
\nrepresentatives of various environmental organizations.<\/p>\n
Organized under the theme Conserving the Mangrove, Saving
\nJakarta, the planting activity was coupled with a light
\ndiscussion and a presentation on how to plant mangrove trees by
\nrepresentatives of the Institute of Mangrove Research and
\nDevelopment's (IMReD) Bogor chapter.<\/p>\n
Program coordinator Andi Armansyah said that the event was
\nvery important to WALHI, and those concerned about the
\nenvironment, as it went beyond merely backing environmental
\npolicies on paper.<\/p>\n
\"Muara Angke animal reserve was chosen as the site for this
\nactivity as it is close to Jakarta,\" said Andi, who works under
\nthe administrative and education division of WALHI's executive
\nboard.<\/p>\n
Fadma (24), a member of Friends of WALHI, said that the
\nprogram was timely as the condition of the reserve was
\ndeteriorating.<\/p>\n
\"We must conserve the reserve, not only by planting mangrove
\ntrees but also by regularly removing waste and garbage from the
\narea,\" said Fadma, a final-year student at the school of
\nenvironmental engineering, Sahid University, Jakarta.<\/p>\n
He said he had seen a lot of plastic garbage in the area,
\nwhich would take a long time to decompose.<\/p>\n
Several factors had to be taken into account before and after
\nthe mangrove trees were planted, according to Fadma.<\/p>\n
First, the land needed to be cleared of underbrush. Then,
\n1.5m-long wooden poles were erected in the mud, to which the
\nmangrove seedlings were tied. The seedlings must be planted at
\nleast one meter apart.<\/p>\n
Mangrove planting is different from planting other trees. When
\nyou plant a tree in the ground, the seedling wrapper must first
\nbe removed.<\/p>\n
When you plant a mangrove seedling, some holes are made in the
\nbag but it is not removed until eight to 12 months later, said
\nBayu Catur Nurcahya, who has often been hired as a technical
\nconsultant for mangrove planting at Muara Angke.<\/p>\n
Given this planting process, the rehabilitation of mangrove
\ntrees has become quite costly as they require a controlled
\nenvironment and underbrush must be cleared regularly.<\/p>\n
Bayu said Maura Angke was a good place to grow pidada, as the
\nsoil was suitable. The pidada mangrove produces seeds between the
\nages of two and four. Its fruit is popular among long-tailed
\nmonkeys in the area.<\/p>\n
Besides, Bayu added, a thicket of mangrove trees makes a great
\nshelter for birds. --JP<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/environmentalists-striving-to-conserve-nature-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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