E. Java's mangrove forests in critical condition
E. Java's mangrove forests in critical condition
Indra Harsaputra, The Jakarta Post, Surabaya
Most coastal areas in East Java, similar to tsunami-hit coastal
regions in Aceh and North Sumatra, are susceptible to disasters
like tsunami, warns an official.
Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries' Director General
of Coastal Areas and Small Islands Widi Agoes Pratikto said the
condition was mainly due to the damage of mangrove forests along
the coast.
However, he failed to provide details on the extent of the
damage of East Java's mangrove forests, only saying that
nationwide, the degree of destruction had reached 60 percent.
"That's why people in East Java should pray that it (a
tsunami) won't happen for a second time here, after Aceh," said
Widi.
Mangroves serve as a place for small fish to live and breed in
safety from predators. The structure of a forest is simple as it
consists of a line of mangrove trees interspersed with a few
other tree species. The kinds of trees generally found are bakau
(Rhizobhara sp) and api-api (Avicennia sp).
Mangroves grow on swampy shores that have calm waters.
Widi said the Ministry of Forestry had allocated Rp 860
billion (US$95.5 million) for mangrove reforestation across the
country. The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries will
allocate Rp 72 billion for fishermen in Aceh to replant
mangroves.
He said the ministry would also conduct a public awareness
campaign to educate fishermen in coastal areas on the reasons
they should not chop down mangroves. The drive will be conducted
by relevant agencies, such as the forestry, fisheries and
maritime agencies in every province.
The head of the East Java Fisheries and Maritime Affairs
Office's Marine Resource Exploration department, Misran, said
that 11,125.29 hectares out of the total area of 159,322.18
hectares of mangrove forests in East Java were in critical
condition.
The figure is predicted to gradually rise due to a lack of
public awareness to prevent the illegal felling of mangrove
forest.
The worst case is in Sidoarjo, where 10,295.80 out of 26,592.3
hectares have been damaged.
Another 580 hectares of mangrove forest along the Probolinggo
coast have been destroyed in various projects, with 300 hectares
allegedly lost to the Paiton power plant project, 280 hectares to
extensive expansion of shrimp farms and development of
residential areas in coastal areas.
In Probolinggo, mangroves stretch for 56 kilometers through
seven districts of Tongas, Sumberasih, Dringu, Gending,
Pajarakan, Krakasan and Paiton.
Mangrove forests can be found in 47 villages, one of the most
severely effected being in Sumberasih district, where 35 hectares
of forest have shrunk to just eight hectares in the last two to
three years.
Misran blamed the construction of houses, both private and
government, for the damaged mangrove forests in East Java.
In East Java alone, around 57,000 hectares of mangrove forests
have vanished since 2001.
"To overcome the problem, the maritime affairs and fisheries
office along with the East Java Forestry Office have replanted
mangroves in a number of areas along the coast," said Misran.