Going, going, gone<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Municipal Administration (DKI), the Ministry of
\nEnvironment, and the Ministry of Tourism, Post and
\nTelecommunications apparently have no control over Indonesia's
\npremier National Marine Park in the Thousand Islands.<\/p>\n
As of the first week of June, at least 10 local boats were
\nexcavating sand from Pulau Gosong Opak, probably lifting up to
\n100 tons of sand each and every day. Apart from violating DKI
\nregulations and creating a navigational hazard, in itself a
\nviolation of Ministry of Transportation's regulation, there are
\nserious environmental effects.<\/p>\n
First, on the environmental front: An island is being removed
\nfrom the group. More of the fast diminishing coral is lost, with
\nassociated losses to the overall marine biota of the Thousand
\nIslands.<\/p>\n
Second, this sand is being brought to Pulau Kaliage Besar and
\nspread over 60 percent of that island to \"Pondok Indah-fy\" the
\nalready denuded protective ground vegetation. The result of this
\nlatter action reduces the delicate water table by allowing
\ngreater transpiration which, in turn, causes more vegetation loss
\nbecause there is less and less fresh water. In turn, this loss of
\nvegetation permits greater rates of coastal erosion, erosion
\nwhich is further accelerated by increasing sea levels worldwide.<\/p>\n
Third, bare sterile sand provides no food for either the
\nalready limited range of island bird life, reptiles, land
\ncrustaceans and insects.<\/p>\n
Surely the DKI, environmental and tourism authorities are
\ncapable of policing the National Marine Park, which sits on
\nJakarta's doorstep. Few cities in the world have such a wonder
\nnearby. Why not protect it effectively and properly before it is
\nlost forever?<\/p>\n
Name and address<\/p>\n
known to the editor<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/going-going-gone-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }