Golf course causes sedimentation

The National Aeronautics and Space Research Institute has determined that the construction of the Pantai Indah Kapuk golf course and real estate complexes in North Jakarta is accelerating sedimentation along the coast.

The sedimentation is caused mainly by the reckless felling of mangrove trees by the developers of the projects, Bidawi Hasyim, the institute's marine researcher, was quoted by the Antara news agency as saying.

The institute's satellite data show that the golf course and housing estates now cover 308.34 hectares, up from only 225.45 hectares in 1992.

The high sedimentation level makes the seashore vulnerable because the absence of mangrove plants, which used to function as filters for solid materials and liquid wastes, will speed up the sedimentation process. (23)