FMIPA UI Ready to Map Mangrove Carbon Value to Calculate Economic Potential

Dean of the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences at the University of Indonesia (FMIPA UI), Tito Latif Indra, has stated the faculty’s readiness to map the carbon value of mangroves in order to calculate their economic potential. This was confirmed by Tito Latif Indra during the launch of a mangrove economic value mobilisation programme by the Coordinating Ministry for Community Empowerment and the University of Indonesia at the UI Convention Hall in Depok, West Java, on Monday. Tito said his faculty possesses the technology and scientific knowledge to assist in analysing the area along the coast of Java for mangrove mapping through greening and other methods. Consequently, he continued, they can obtain the precise extent of existing mangroves to be mapped, and then perform a conversion to determine the economic value. He noted that previously, carbon value calculations had focused on forests, but now the aim is to examine the potential carbon stock present in mangroves. Tito further stated that poverty alleviation programmes are closely linked, as a value can be derived for the local communities, with the results generating income from industries in the area. The Coordinating Ministry for Community Empowerment and the University of Indonesia launched the mangrove economic value mobilisation programme directed towards community empowerment. Deputy for Coordination of Village, Disadvantaged Village, and Specific Village Empowerment at the Coordinating Ministry for Community Empowerment, Abdul Haris, said mangroves are a crucial point because Indonesia’s mangroves account for nearly 20 per cent of the world’s total, covering almost 3.4 million hectares. He explained that it is important to understand that mangroves can absorb carbon, while the entire northern coast of Java is filled with industries. He questioned what incentives exist for these polluting industries, while the community and government work to preserve the mangroves. He stated that there should be incentives, and the government, particularly the Coordinating Ministry, will attempt to cooperate with technical teams, as mangroves fall under the purview of the Ministry of Forestry and the Ministry of Environment.